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THE 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER 


OF    THE 


UNITED  STATES. 


PART  n. 

tfROM  THE  DECLARATION  OF  WAR  IN  1812, 
TO  JANUARY  1,  1814. 


VOL.  n. 


Uk/wwwwxov 


WASHINGTON  CITY, 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  EDITOR,  T.  H.  PALMER. 

Printed  by  G.  Palmer,  Philadelphia. 

1814. 


CONTENTS. 


ANNALS    OF    AMERICA. 

CHAPTER  I. — §  1.  Introduction.  2.  Expedition  of  general  Hull.  3. 
March  through  the  Indian  country.  4.  Invasion  of  Canada.  5.  Re- 
connoitering  on  the  Thames.  6.  Attack  on  the'British  advanced  posts. 
7.  Fall  of  Michillimackinac.  8.  Policy  o£  Britain  and  America  to- 
wards the  Indians,  9.  Skirmishing.  10.  American  supplies  inter- 
cepted. 11.  Battle  of  Maguago.  12.  Canada  evacuated.  13  De- 
troit summoned.  14.  Surrender  of  the  army.  15.  Massacre  at  Chi- 
cago 1 

CHAPTER  II.— §  1.  Character  of  the  American  navy.  2.  Cruise  of 
the  squadron  under  commodore  Rodgers.  5.  Pursuit  of  the  Belvidera. 
4.  Escape  of  the  Constitution.  5.  Capture  of  the  Guerriere.  6.  Cruise 
of  the  Essex.  7.  Rodgers'  second  cruise.  8.  The  Argus.  9  Cap- 
ture  of  the  Macedonian.  10  Capture  of  the  Frolick  and  Wasp. 
11.  Affairs  on  the  lakes.  12.  Capture  of  the  Caledonia  and  De- 
troit.  13.  Battle  of  Queenstown.  14.  Smyth's  abortive  expedition.  13 

CHAPTER  III.— §  1.  Military  ardour  of  the  western  states.  2.  Fort 
Wayne  relieved.  3.  Indian  expeditions.  4.  March  through  the 
wilderness  to  Fort  Defiance.  §5.  Failure  of  Tapper's  projected 
expedition.  6.  Expedition  to  the  rapids  of  the  Miami.  7.  Second 
expedition  thither.  8.  Siege  of  Fort  Harrison.  9.  Relief  of  that 
post.  10.  Expedition  against  the  Peoria  towns.  11.  Destruction  of 
the  Indian  towns  on  the  Wabash.  12.  Destruction  of  the  Indian  towns 

r    on  the  Mississinewa.     13.  Expedition  a'gainst  the  Florida  Indians    29 

CHAPTER  IV — §  1.  The  Bonne  Citoyenne  challenged.  2.  Capture 
and  destruction  of  the  Java.  3.  Capture  and  destruction  of  the  Peacock. 

4.  Cruise  of  the  Chesapeake.  5.  Captured  by  the  Shannon.  6.  Capture 
of  the  Argus.    7.  Capture  of  the  Boxer.      8.  Cruise  of  the  President 
and  Congress.    9.  Cruise  of  the  Essex.    10.  Loss  of  national  vessels. 
11.    American  privateers.     12.  The  Rolla.     13.  The   Comet.      14. 
The  General  Armstrong.     15.  The  Decatur  45 

CHAPTER  V.—§  1.  Battle  near  the  River  Raisin.  2.  Battle  of  French  - 
town.  3.  Massacre  of  the  prisoners.  4.  Fort  Meigs  constructed. 

5.  Siege  of  Fort  Meigs .     6.  Skirmishing   on  the  St.  Lawrence.     7. 
Capture  of  Ogdensburg.    8.  Capture  of  York.     9.  Capture  of  Fort 
George.     10.  Generals  Chandler  and  Winder  made  prisoners.     11. 
Capture  of  Bcerstler's  detachment.    12.  Attack  on   Sackett's  Har- 
bour.    13.  Sodus  burnt.     14.  Second  attempt  on  Sackett's  Harbour. 
15.  Attack  on  Black  Rock.     16.  Siege  of  Lower  Sandusky  67 

CHAPTER  VI.— §1.  Norfolk  threatened  by  a  British  squadron.  2.  Bom- 
bardment of  Lewistown.  3.  Capture  of  the  Dolphin,  &c.  4.  Ac- 
VOL.  I.  PART  II.  b 


-,    ,  'A 

i( 


11  CONTENTS. 

tion  between  the  Fox  and  Adeline.  5.  Annapolis  and  Baltimore 
threatened.  6.  Burning  of  the  villages  of  Havre  -de-Grace,  &c.  7.  At- 
tack on  Craney  Island.  8.  Outrages  at  Hampton.  9.  Decatur's 
squadron  driven  into  New  London.  10.  Attempt  to  blow  up  the  Ra- 
milies.  11.  Explosion  of  a  torpedo 

CHAPTER  VII.— §  1.  Cruises  on  lake  Erie.  2.  Capture  of  the  Brit- 
ish squadron.  3.  Evacuation  of  Maiden  and  Detroit-  4.  Capture  of 
the  British  army.  5.  Moderation  of  the  conquerors.  6.  Expedition 
to  the  Peoria  lake.  7.  Inactivity  of  the  army  at  Fort  George.  8. 
Ghauncey's  cruises  on  lake  Ontario.  9-  Engagement  with  the  Royal 
George  under  Kingston  batteries.  10-  Engagement  with  Yeo's  squa- 
dron. 11.  Yeo  chased  round  the  lake.  12.  Chauncey's  second  engage- 
ment with  Yeo.  13.  Capture  of  the  British  transports  91 

CHAPTER  VIII.— §  1.  Movements  on  lake  Champlain.  2.  General 
Hampton  invades  Canada.  3.  Wilkinson  moves  down  the  St.  Lawrence. 

4.  Battle  of  Williamsburgh.      5.  Hampton   declines  a  junction.     6. 
The    army   moves  into   winter-quarters.      7.    Evacuation  of   Fort 
George.    8.  Fort  Niagara  taken  by  storm.    9.  The  Niagara  frontier 
laid  waste  108 

CHAPTER  IX.— §  1.  Events  on  the  southern  frontier.  2.  Seizure  of 
Mobile.  3.  War  with  the  Creek  Indians.  4.  Capture  of  Fort  Mims. 

5.  Battle  of  Tallushatches.     6.  Battle  of  Talledega.     7.  Destruction 
of  the  Hillibee  towns.    8.  Battle  of  Autossee.    9.  Expedition  to  the 
Tall  apoosie  river.  10.  Prospects  of  peace.     11.  Retaliation.     12.  Cor- 
respondence on  the  employment  of  the  Indians  118 

OFFICIAL    DOCUMENTS. 

American  and  British  manifestoes  [1 

American  and  British  proclamations  on  the  invasion  of  Canada  [31 

American  and  British  accounts  of  the  capture  of  Michillimackinac  [36 

Attack  on  the  British  advanced  posts  at  the  river  Aux  Canards  [39 
American  and  British  accounts  of  the  surrender  of  the  army  under 

general  Hull  [40 

Evacuation  of  Chicago  :60 

Cruize  of  the  squadron  under  commodore  Rodgers  '62 

Escape  of  the  Constitution  70 

Captain  Hull's  second  cruize  74 
American  and  British  accounls  of  the  capture  and  destruction  of 

the  Guerriere  [76 

Cruize  of  the  Essex  [82 

Capture  of  the  Nautilus  [89 

Cruize  of  commodore  Rodgers  [91 
American  and  British  accounts  of  the  capturd  of  the  Frolic  and 

Wasp  [93 

American  and  British  accounts  of  the  capture  of  the  Macedonian  [96 

Capture  of  the  Caledonia  and  the  Detroit  [99 
Battle  of  Queenstown 
Affair  at  St.  Regis 
Cruize  of  the  squadron  on  lake  Ontario 


Cannonading  between  Forts  George  and  Niagara 
General  Smyth's  expedition 


Indian  warfare 


105 
110 
112 
116 
118 
122 


American  and  British  accounts  of  the  capture  and  destruction  of 
the  Java  [154 


CONTENTS.  Ill 

Cruize  or  the  Chesapeake  [161 

Capture  and  shipwreck  of  the  Vixen  [162 

Capture  and  destruction  of  the  Peacock  [165 

American  and  British  accounts  of  the  capture  of  the  Chesapeake 

Capture  of  the  Fly 

Capture  of  the  Dnminico 

Capture  of  the  Argus 

Capture  of  the  Boxer 

Cruize  of  commodore  Rodgers 

Capture  of  the  Dart 

Cruize  of  the  Essex 


Proceedings  of  the  north-western  army 

American  and  British  accounts  of  the  capture  of  York 

Capture  of  Fort  George 

American  and  British  accounts  .of  the  attack  on  Sackett's  Harbour 

American  and  British  accounts  of  the  capture  of  generals  Chandler 

and  Winder  [23? 

American  and  British  accounts  of  the  capture  of  the  detachment 


169 
173 
173 
:174 
'175 
177 
181 
"182 
187 
215 
224 
230 


under  colonel  Bcerstler 
Skirmishes  at  Fort  George 
Siege  of  Lower  Sandusky 
Operations  of  the  blockading  squadron 
Cruizes  of  commodore  Chauncey  on  lake  Ontario 
Capture  of  the  British  squadron  on  lake  Erie 
Capture  of  the  British  army  under  general  Proctor 


'242 
246 
251 
'257 
280 
"295 
298 
British  account  of  the  defeat  of  general  Proctor  and  captain  Bar- 

•  clay  [505 

British  account  of  a  skirmish  with  the  advanced  guard  of  the  army 

under  general  Hampton  [313 

Operations  of  the  army  under  general  Wilkinson  [315 

War  with  the  Creek  Indians  [328 

American  and  British  accounts  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Niagara,  and 

the  desolation  of  that  frontier  [347 


ERRATUM. 
In  page  242,  for  general  read  colonel. 


ANNALS  OF  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

§  1.  Introduction.  §  2.  Expedition  of  general  Hull.  §  3.  March 
through  the  Indian  country.  §  4.  Invasion  of  Canada.  §  5.  Recon- 
noitering  on  the  Thames.  §  6.  Attack  on  the  British  advanced  posts. 
§  7.  Fall  of  Michillimackinac.  §  8.  Policy  of  Britain  and  America 
towards  the  Indians.  §  9.  Skirmishing.  §  10.  American  supplies  in- 
tercepted. §  11.  Battle  of  Maguago.  §  12.  Canada  evacuated.  §13. 
Detroit  summoned.  §  14.  Surrender  of  the  army.  §  15.  Massacre 
at  Chicago. 

§  1.  JLl  URING  the  last  thirty  years,  the  United  States  has 
been  increasing  in  population  and  wealth  in  a  ratio  unparalleled 
in  history.  Within  that  period,  its  numbers  have  been  more 
than  doubled,  while  its  forests  have  been  rapidly  changing  into 
cultivated  fields,  and  flourishing  towns  and  villages  rising,  as  it 
by  magic,  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness.  These  blessings, 
however,  have  not  been  entirely  unalloyed.  The  rapid  increase 
of  wealth  has  introduced  luxury,  with  its  accompanying  evils, 
and  has,  especially  in  the  larger  cities,  considerably  sullied  our 
republican  simplicity  of  manners.  Our  extensive  commerce, 
too,  has  embroiled  us  with  several  of  the  European  powers, 
and  finally  involved  us  in  war  ;  while  the  thirst  for  speculation 
•which  it  has  excited  in  almost  every  class,  has  undoubtedly  had 
a  demoralizing  tendency,  though  not  perhaps  in  the  degree 
attributed  to  it  by  some  politicians,  who  have  placed  solely  to 
that  account  the  want  of  public  spirit  and  nationality,  which  has 
been  charged  to  this  country.  The  present  war,  whatever 
other  evils  it  may  have  introduced,  has  certainly  checked  this 
evil.  It  has  raised  the  character  of  the  nation  in  the  eyes  of 
foreign  powers,  and  erected  an  altar  of  national  glory  on  which 
all  1  >cal  prejudices  have  been  sacrificed,  and  politicians  of  every 
pjirty  have  joined  hand  in  hand  to  celebrate  the  triumphs  of 
our  country. 

In  commencing  this  work,  we  have  chosen  the  declaration  of 
war  against  Great  Britain  as  a  point  from  whence  to  stt  out. 
Historical  events  in  general  are  so  closely  connected,  that  it  is 
difficult  to  give  a  clear  account  of  any  particular  period,  without 

VOL.    I.    PART  II.  A 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER.          [CHAP.  i. 

extending  the  view  considerably  backward.  This,  however, 
is  hardly  necessary  on  the  present  occasion,  as  our  intention  is 
rather  to  present  a  digested  statement  of  passing  events,  than  to 
enter  into  historical  discussions  of"  their  causes,  and  as  we  in- 
tended to  publish,  by  way  of  introduction,  a  digest  of  sta^e  pa- 
pers and  of  the  proceedings  of  congress,  from  the  establishment 
of  the  constitution,  which  will  present  an  authentic  view  both  of 
the  foreign  and  domestic  transactions  of  America,  up  to  the  pre- 
sent time. 

A  formal  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain,  was  passed 
by  congress  on  the  18th  of  June,  1812*,  which  was  proclaimed 
by  the  president  on  the  following  day.  At  this  time  the  whole 
naval  force  of  the  United  States  amounted  only  to  seven  fri- 
gates, and  a  few  sloops  of  war  and  other  smaller  vessels.  The 

*  TWis  year  will  form  a  memorable  era  in  history,  as  the  commencement  of 
two  wars,  which  seem  destined  to  effect  an  important  revolution  in  the  world, 
to  oppose  limits  to  powers  hitherto  deemed  invincible,  and  which  threatened  to 
reduce  Christendom  into  two  mighty  empires. 

France  and  England  have  w^ged  a  war  nearly  without  intermission  for  twen- 
ty years,  during  which  the  former  has  been  gradually  enlarging  its  power  by 
land,  and  the  latter  by  sea,  until  at  length  the  whole  continent  of  Europe 
seemed  10  be  prostrate  at  the  foot  of  the  one,  while  the  boast  of  the  other,  that 
the  ocean  was  her  domain,  and  that  not  a  sail  but  by  permission  spread,  seemed 
true  almost  without  a  hyperbole. 

Though  possessing  boundless  power  on  one  element,  however,  both  nations 
have  been  comparatively  harmless  on  the  other,  and  therefore  neither  has  been 
able  o  make  any  serious  impression  on  its  adversary.  In  this  state  of  things  it 
would  seem  as  if,  inflated  with  the  pride  of  power,  and  unable  to  vent  their 
fury  on  each  other,  they  had  with  one  consent  laid  down  the  usual  modes  of 
warfare,  and  entered  on  a  contest  of  rapacity  and  injustice  toward  all  other 
•powers.  Decrees  and  orders  have  followed  in  rapid  succession,  and  friendly 
neturals  have  been  oppressed  and  plundered  without  mercy. 

While  both  parties  have  thus  pursued  the  same  track,  each  has  lavished  th^ 
most  opprobrious  epithets  on  the  conduct  of  the  other.  The  most  plausible 
pretexts,  however,  have  not  been  wanting  for  their  own  justification.  The  op- 
pressor of  the  continent  is  fighting  for  the  liberty  of  the  seas,  and  the  glorious 
object  of  the  conflagrator  of  Copenhagen,  and  the  tyrant  of  the  ocean,  is  the 
emanc;pation  of  Europe  from  the  chains  of  its  despot.  It  is  with  the  utmost 
regret  that  b^th  have  been  forced,  through  just  and  necessary  retaliation,  in  a 
v/ar  waged,  no;  for  their  individual  glory,  nor  through  the  lust  of  power,  but 
for  'he  1'berties  of  the  world,  to  depart  from  the  rules  of  civilized  warfare,  and 
to  plunder  indiscriminately  friends  and  foes. 

It  is  certainly  a  remarkable  coincidence,  that  the  Russian  and  American  wars 
should  have  broken  out  within  a  few  days  of  each  other,  and  that  nearly  at  the 
same  moment  Bonaparte  should  be  threatening  to  plant  his  victorious  eagles  on 
the  walls  of  Sr.  Petersburg)!,  and  Great  Britain  boasting  that  she  would  sweep 
every  American  cock-boat  from  the  ocean,  little  suspecting  that,  in  a  few  short 
months,  the  invincible  legions  of  France  should  be  nearly  annihilated  by  a  herd 
of  --barbarous  Cossacs,''  and  the  British  ensign  be  repeatedly  struck  to  the 
"  fir-built"  frigates  of  a  despicable  foe.— It  is  sincerely  to  be  hoped  that  both 
na-ions.  and  the  world  in  general,  will  pront  by  the  important  lessons  of  thir 
-ventful  year. 


§  2.J  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  3 

land  forces  were  next  to  nothing.  An  army  of  35,000  men,  it 
is  true,  was  authorized  by  congress,  and  the  president  was  em- 
powered to  call  out  100,000  militia  ;  b.ut  the  latter  species  of 
force,  though  strong  in  defensive  operation,  in  offensive  is  per- 
haps worse  than  nothing,  and  in  a  free  country  like  this,  where 
a  comfortable  subsistence  is  so  readily  procured,  the  embodying 
of  a  large  regular  force  is  far  from  being  the  work  of  a  day. 
Besides,  some  time  is  necessary  to  change  the  habits  of  men 
from  civil  to  military  ;  men  brought  up  in  ease  and  indolence 
cannot  at  once  execute  the  duties  and  meet  the  perils  of  war. 
Considerable  difficulties  were  experienced  likewise  in  finding 
officers  fitted  for  command.  Many  of  the  revolutionary  cha- 
racters were  dead,  and  those  who  survived  were  almost  too  old 
for  active  service.  In  this  state  of  things,  can  it  be  a  subject  of 
wonder  that  the  raw  forces  of  the  United  States,  headed  by 
officers  who  had  never  seen  service,  and  acccompanied  by  rash 
militia,  without  subordination,  should  experience  some  disasters 
in  the  commencement  of  their  career  ?  These  disasters,  how- 
ever, have  thrown  no  disgrace  on  the  American  name.  On  the 
contrary,  the  conduct  of  the  American  armies  has  reflected 
honour  on  their  country,  and  all  their  reverses  have  been  occa- 
sioned either  by  the  rashness  of  undisciplined  bravery,  or  by 
the  misconduct  or  inexperience  of  their  leaders. 

From  the  disadvantages  under  which  the  army  has  laboured, 
the  little  navy  of  America  has  been  entirely  free.  The  previ- 
ous embarrassments  of  commerce  rendered  it  easy  for  our  naval 
officers  to  supply  themselves  with  a  sufficient  number  of  seamen, 
and  with  men  too  who  had  all  their  lives  been  engaged  in  simi- 
lar pursuits,  and  under  the  most  rigorous  discipline  ;  for  we 
apprehend  that  but  little  difference  exists  as  to  discipline  and 
general  habits  between  a  merchantman  and  a  ship  of  war. 
With  these  circumstances  in  view,  then,  while  we  rejoice  over 
the  brilliant  exploits  of  our  naval  heroes,  let  us  not  doubt  but 
that  the  American  army,  when  it  has  overcome  the  difficulties 
which  have  arisen  from  the  long  peace  with  which  the  United 
States  has  been  blessed,  and  from  the  very  nature  of  its  free 
political  institutions,  will  show  what  can  be  achieved  by  freemen, 
by  land  as  well  as  by  sea. 

§  2.  At  the  time  of  the  declaration  of  war,  general  Hull, 
governor  of  the  territory  of  Michigan,  was  on  his  march  through 
the  Indian  country  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  with  an  army  of  about 
2000  men,  destined  for  Detroit.  In  the  preceding  month  of 
April  the  governor  of  Ohio  had  been  ordered  by  the  president 
to  call  out  1200  militia.  This  requisition  was  principally  fiiied 
by  volunteers,  who  rendezvoused  at  Dayton  on  the  29th  of 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER.          [CHAP.  i. 

April,  and  were  shortly  after  placed  under  the  command  of 
general  Hull.  In  the  beginning  of  June  the  detachment  advan- 
ced to  Urbanna,  where,  on  the  tenth,  they  were  joined  by  the 
4th  regiment  of  United  States  infantry.  The  following  day 
they  commenced  tht-ir  inarch  through  the  wilderness. 

§  3.  From  Urbanna  to  the  rapids  of  the  Miami  of  the  Lakes, 
the  country  belongs  to  the  Indians,  and  is  entirely  destitute  of 
roads.  From  the  rapids  to  Detroit,  along  Lake  Erie  and  De- 
troit river,  are  various  settlements,  principally  of  French  Cana- 
dians. By  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  concluded  by  general 
Wa\  ne  with  the  Indians  in  1795,  a  number  of  tracts,  generally 
six  miles  square,  were  ceded  to  the  United  States,  which  form 
chains  of  posts  joining  the  lakes  with  the  Ohio  by  the  course  ;>f 
the  navigable  rivtrs  and  the  portages  connecting  them.  By 
the  treaty  a  free  passage  both  b\  land  and  water  was  to  be  al- 
lowed to  the  people  of  the  United  States,  along  these  chains  of 
posts.  Forts  or  block-houses  have  been  erected  and  garrison- 
ed in  most  of  these  ceded  tracts  since  the  declaration  of  war, 
but  at  the  time  that  the  country  was  traversed  by  general  Hull's 
detachment,  no  civilized  being  was  to  be  seen  between  Urbanna 
and  the  rapids,  a  distance  of  at  least  120  miles. 

Towards  the  end  of  June  the  army  arrived  at  the  rapids, 
where  a  beautiful  and  romantic  country  suddenly  opened  to 
their  view,  enlivened  by  the  signs  of  cultivation,  and  by  the 
dwellings  of  their  countrymen.  Here  a  beam  of  joy  animated 
every  countenance,  and  gave  fresh  energy  and  fortitude  to  those 
who  had  undergone  with  difficulty  the  fatigues  of  a  march  at 
once  gloomy  and  oppressive.  On  men  who  had  just  emerged 
from  a  dreary  wilderness,  unincumbered  by  a  single  hut  reared 
by  the  hand  of  civilization,  occupied  by  nought  but  Indians  and 
beasts  of  prey,  the  change  of  scenery  had  a  wonderful  effect. 

After  stopping  here  one  day  for  refreshment,  the  army  re- 
commenced their  march,  having  previously  loaded  a  small 
schooner  with  the  hospital  stores  and  officers'  baggage,  which 
was  dispatched  to  Detroit  by  water,  under  a  guard  of  a  lieute- 
nant and  thirty  men.  Before  they  reached  Detroit  the  army- 
were  informed  of  the  capture  of  the  schooner,  and  of  the  decla- 
ration of  war.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  July,  they  arrived 
at  Spring  Wells,  opposite  Sandwich,  within  a  few  miles  of  De- 
troit, where  they  encamped. 

§  4.  As  general  Hull  had  received,  before  his  taking  com- 
mand of  the  army,  discretionary  powers  to  act  offensively  in 
case  of  war,  the  invasion  of  Canada  was  now  determined  on, 
and  the  utmost  diligence  was  used  in  preparation  for  that  event. 
The  arms  of  the  troops  were  repaired,  a  part  of  the  ordnance 


$  5,  6.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA. 

found  in  the  fort  at  Detroit  was  mounted,  and  ev< 
was  used  by  the  officers  to  impress  on  the  minds  01 
the  necessity  of  strict  discipline  and  obedience  to  ordei 

On  the  12th  of  July  the  army  crossed  into  Canada, 
exception  of  a  small  part  of  one  company  of  militia,  th. 
to  puss  the  river.      They  encamped  at  Sandwich,  ;\  . 
Detroit,   where   a  proclamation  was  issued  by  gent 
The  inhabitants  fled  in  the  utmost  consternation  on  th' 
of  the  army,  but  on  receiving  the  proclamation,  mam 
returned  to  their  homes. 

§  5.  On  the  14th  a  company  of  militia  and  a  rifle  r 
der  colonel  M' Arthur,  were  detached  to  reconnoitre 
try.     They  penetrated  to  M'Gregor's  mills,  upon  th 
Tranche,  or  Thames,  a  short  distance  from  the  h 
where  the   British  army  was  captured    fifteen    mon 
T'ards  by  general  Harrison.     On  the   17th,  they  rei 
camp,  having  collected  a  great  quantity  of  provisions,  a. 
her  of  blankets,  besides  a  considerable  quantity  of  ammunition 
and  other  military  stores. 

.  That  part  of  Upper  Canada  traversed  by  the  detachment  is 
described  by  one  of  the  volunteers  that  composed  it  as  extreme- 
ly fertile  and  beautiful.  The  fields  of  wheat  and  Indian  corn 
were  remarkably  fine  ;  but  as  even-  male  capable  of  bearing 
arms  had  been  drafted  for  the  defence  of  the  province,  vast 
quantities  of  the  wheat  remained  ungathered. 

§  6.  On  the  16th,  another  reconnoitering  party  of  280  men, 
under  colonel  Cass,  was  despatched  in  an  opposite  direction,  to- 
wards Fort  Maiden,  where  the  British  and  Indians  had  concen- 
trated their  forces. 

Maiden,  or  Amherstburgh,  is  situated  near  the  junction  of  De- 
troit river  with  lake  Erie,  about  thirteen  miles  south  from  the 
camp  of  general  Hull  at  Sandwich.  The  road  lies  along  the 
river,  and  crosses  two  creeks,  and  the  river  Aux  Canards,  the 
latter  about  four  miles  from  Maiden.  Cass'  detachment  found 
the  British  advanced  posts  in  possession  of  a  bridge  over  the 
Aux  Canards.  After  examining  their  position,  the  colonel 
posted  a  company  of  riflemen  near  the  bridge,  and  forded  the 
river  about  five  miles  above  with  the  remainder  of  his  force, 
with  the  intention  of  surprising  the  British  post.  For  that  pur- 
pose the  riflemen  were  instructed  to  commence  firing,  in  order 
to  divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  as  soon  as  they  should  per- 
ceive their  companions  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  Un- 
fortunately, however,  being  entirely  destitute  of  guides,  the  de- 
tachment marched  too  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  found 
their  progress  checked  by  a  creek,  which  obliged  them  to  make 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER.          [CHAP.  i. 

•cuit  of  two  or  three  miles.     This  gave  the  enemy  time  to 
e  their  arrangements,  and  prepare  for  their  defence.     On 
g  attacked,  however,  they  retreated  to  Maiden,  and  left  the 
^e  in  possession  of  the  detachment ;  but  as  colonel  Cass  had 
ived  no  orders  to  keep  possession  of  any  post,  but  had  been 
mtrely  to  reconnoitre,  this  bridge,  which  formed  the  prm- 
A\  obstruction  between  the  American   camp   and   Maiden, 
as  abandoned,  ancfthe  detachment  returned  to  camp. 
§  7.   Meanwhile  the  main  body  of  the  Americans  remained 
nactive  at  Sandwich,     Not  a  single  cannon  or  mortar  was  on 
•vheels  suitable  for  the  attack  of  Maiden;  nor  was  it  until  the 
7th  of  August  that  two  24  pounders  and  thtee  howitzers  were 
)repared.     Previous  to  that  day,  however,  a  great  change  had 
aken  place  in  the  prospects  of  the  Americans.     The  news  of 
ae  surprise  and  capture  of  the  island  and  fort  of  Michillimack- 
i.iac*  by  a  combined  force  of  British  and  Indians,  which  took 
p;-\ce  on  the  17th  of  July,  reached  the  army  on  the  28th.     The 
surrender  of  this  post  is  stated  by  general  Hull  to  have  "  open- 
ed the  northern  hive  of  Indians,"  and  to  have  induced  those 
who  had  hitherto  been  friendly  to  pass  over  to  the  British. 

§  8.  The  policy  observed  by  the  British  and  American  go- 
vernments towards  the  Indians  is  of  a  diametrically  opposite 
complexion.  The  American  government  is  doing  every  thing 
in  its  power  to  civilize  those  unfortunate  tribes  who  live  within 
their  limits,  and  to  introduce  among  them  the  practice  of 
agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts,  with  a  view  to  wean  them 
from  the  hunter  state,  a  state  which  is  becoming  daily  more 
precarious  and  unprofitable  from  the  increase  of  the  population 
of  the  country,  and  which  renders  them  extremely  dangerous 
neighbours.  The  policy  of  the  British,  on  the  contrary,  is  to 
keep  them  in  their  hunter  state,  by  which  they  not  only  supply 
a  lucrative  branch  of  trade,  but  furnish  a  powerful  weapon  in 
war.  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  then,  that  the  Indians,  who 
delight  in  warfare,  and  all  of  whose  habits  are  averse  from  the 
pursuits  of  civilized  life,  should  cling  to  the  British,  and  should 
view  the  Americans,  from  their  rapid  increase  of  population 
and  strength,  with  jealousy  and  dislike.  From  this  cause 
Canada  has  ever  been  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the  United  States. 
While  in  possession  of  the  French,  by  whom  it  was  originally 

*  Michillimackinac,  or  Makina,  is  a  small  island  situated  in  the  entrance  of 
the  strait  between  la,-:es  Huron  and  Michigan.  The  fort  is  the  most  northern 
military  post  in  the  United  States.  Here  a  great  fair  was  annually  held,  previ- 
ous to  the  war,  which  was  principally  frequented  by  the  Indian  traders  and  the 
merchants  of  Montreal,  for  the  purpose  of  exchanging  the  peltries  of  the  ur.civ"'- 
ized  regions  for  the  msfnufactures  of  Great  Britain. 


$  9, 10.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  f 

settled,  the  most  powerful  efforts  were  made  by  the  British  and 
provincial  troops  to  gain  possession  of  the  country. 

In  the  French  war  of  1756,  after  three  wholly  disastrous 
campaigns,  and  one  of  mingled  disaster  and  success,  the  Ameri- 
cans, assisted  by  powerful  British  aid,  at  last  succeeded  in  unit- 
ing Canada  to  the  British  dominions,  and  thereby  restoring 
peace  to  their  harassed  frontiers.  The  same  complaints 
against  the  possessors  of  Canada  for  exciting  the  Indians  to 
hostility  were  urged  in  those  days,  that  are  now  repeated, 
against  their  successors  the  British,  and  by  none  was  the  use  of 
this  weapon  more  reprobated  than  by  those  who  now  employ  it. 
Such  is  the  different  lights  in  which  a  subject  appears  when  it 
operates  for  or  against  us  ! 

By  the  fall  of  Michillimackinac,  the  junction  of  the  Indians, 
and  the  reinforcements,  both  of  militia  and  regulars,  which  the 
inactivity  of  the  Americans  enabled  the  British  to  collect  for 
the  defence  of  Maiden,  it  soon  became  evident  that  no  effective 
measures  towards  the  reduction  of  Canada  could  be  undertaken 
by  this  army. 

§  9.  Several  skirmishes  happened  between  reconnoitering 
parties  of  the  Americans  and  the  Indian  and  British  advanced 
posts  towards  the  end  of  July  and  in  the  beginning  of  August, 
in  which  both  sides  claimed  the  victory.  Most  of  these  skir- 
mishes took  place  near  the  river  Aux  Canards.  By  these  par- 
ties it  was  discovered  that  the  bridge  over  that  river  had  been 
taken  up  by  the  British,  except  the  sleepers  ;  that  a  battery 
was  erected  at  one  end  of  it ;  and  that  the  Queen  Char- 
lotte, which  carried  eighteen  24  pounders,  lay  in  the  Detroit 
river.,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Aux  Canards,  about  a  mile  from  the 
bridge,  with  a  gun- boat  cruizing  round  her. 

§  10.  In  the  mean  time  the  Indians  had  crossed  the  Detroit, 
and  cut  off  the  communication  of  the  American  army  with  the 
state  of  Ohio,  on  which  they  depended  for  their  supplies.  As  a 
small  reinforcement  of  volunteers,  with  a  quantity  of  provision 
for  the  army,  was  daily  expected  by  this  route,  a  corps  of  20O 
men  was  detached  on  the  4th  of  August  to  open  the  communi- 
cation. This  detachment  fell  into  an  ambuscade  which  was 
formed  by  the  Indians  at  Brownstown,  where  they  were  totally 
defeated,  and  returned  to  camp  without  effecting  the  object  of 
their  expedition.  About  the  same  time  an  express  arrived 
from  general  Hall,  the  American  commander  on  the  Niagara 
frontier,  stating  that  there  was  no  prospect  of  a  co-operation 
from  that  quarter. 

It  being  indispensably  necessary  to  open  the  communication 
with  Ohio,  general  Hull  resolved  to  suspend  the  operation-:. 


8  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.          [CHAP.  i. 

against  Maiden,  and  to  concentrate  the  main  force  of  the  army 
at  Detroit.  Unwilling,  however,  to  abandon  the  inhabitants 
of  Upper  Canada,  many  of  whom  had  accepted  his  protection 
under  the  proclamation,  he  established  a  fortress  on  the  banks 
of  the  river,  a  little  above  Sandwich,  where  he  left  a  garrison  of 
300  men.  The  remainder  of  the  army  recrossed  the  river,  and 
encamped  at  Detroit,  on  the  evening  of  the  7th  and  the  morning 
of  the  8th  of  August. 

§11.  In  pursuance  of  the  object  of  opening  the  communica- 
tion, GOO  men  were  immediately  detached  under  lieutenant- 
colonel  Miller.  This  detachment  consisted  principally  of  the 
regular  troops,  and  a  corps  of  artillerists,  with  one  six  pounder 
and  a  howitzer,  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  and  detachments  from 
the  Ohio  and  Michigan  volunteers.  They  marched  from  De- 
troit on  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  August,  and  on  the  9th,  about 
4,  P.  M.  the  van  guard  was  fired  upon  by  an  extensive  line  of 
British  and  Indians,  at  the  lower  part  of  Maguago,  about  14 
miles  from  Detroit.  The  van  guard  maintained  their  position 
in  a  most  gallant  manner,  under  a  very  heavy  fire,  until  the  line 
was  formed,  when  the  whole,  excepting  the  rear  guard,  was 
brought  into  action.  The  enemy  were  formed  behind  a  tempo- 
rary breast-work  of  logs,  the  Indians  extending  in  a  thick  wood 
on  their  left.  The  Americans  advanced  till  within  a  small  dis- 
tance of  the  enemy,  where  they  made  a  general  discharge,  and 
then  proceeded  with  charged  bayonets.  The  enemy  maintain- 
ed their  position  till  forced  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  when 
they  commenced  a  retreat.  They  were  pursued  in  the  most 
vigorous  manner,  about  two  miles,  when  the  pursuit  was  dis- 
continued on  account  of  the  fatigue  of  the  troops,  the  approach 
of  evening,  and  the  necessity  of  returning  to  take  care  of  the 
wounded.  The  Indians  in  this  battle  were  under  the  command 
of  Tecumseh,  and  are  said  to  have  fought  with  great  obstinacy. 

The  British  regulars  and  volunteers  in  this  action  are  stated 
in  general  Hull's  despatch  to  have  amounted  to  4OO,  with  a 
larger  number  of  Indians.  The  Americans  were  6OO  in  num- 
ber. The  American  loss  was  18  killed,  and  64  wounded.  The 
loss  of  the  British  was  not  ascertained.  Four  of  their  regulars 
were  made  prisoners,  who  stated  that  the  commander,  major 
Muir,  and  two  subalterns,  were  wounded,  and  that  15  were 
killed  and  wounded  of  the  41st  regiment.  The  militia  and  vo- 
lunteers were  in  the  severest  part  of  the  action  ;  their  loss  con- 
st q  lently  must  have  been  great.  About  40  Indians  were  found 
dead  on  the  field;  and  Tecumseh,  their  leader,  was  slightly 
wounded.  The  number  of  wounded  Indians  was  not  ascer- 
tained. 


§  11—14.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  9 

Nothing,  however,  but  honour  was  gained  by  this  victory. 
The  communication  was  opened  no  farther  than  the  points  of 
their  bayonets  extended.  The  necessary  care  of  the  sick  and 
wounded,  and  a  severe  storm  of  rain,  rendered  their  return  to 
camp  indispensably  necessary.  Boats  had  been  sent  from  De- 
troit to  transpor  the  wounded  thither  by  water ;  but  the  attempt 
was  found  impracticable.  The  boats  being  descried  from  Mai- 
den, the  Hunter  and  Queen  Charlotte  were  despatched  in  pur- 
suit, and  the  wounded  had  to  be  conveyed  from  the  boats  into 
the  woods,  and  there  remain  until  waggons  could  be  procured 
from  Detroit. 

§  12.  It  was  now  determined  entirely  to  abandon  Canada, 
and  accordingly  the  fort  at  Sandwich  was  evacuated  and  de- 
stroyed. 

Suspicions  of  treachery  in  the  general,  which  had  begun  to 
arise  immediately  after  the  return  of  the  army  to  Detroit,  had 
now  become  very  prevalent  among  the  troops.  A  letter  was 
written  to  governor  Meigs  of  Ohio,  by  five  of  the  principal 
officers,  begging  him  instantly  to  make  every  effort  to  open  the 
communication,  and  informing  him  of  their  fears  and  suspi- 
cions. 

$  13.  On  the  14th  of  August,  another  attempt  was  made  to 
penetrate  to  the  river  Raisin,  where  it  was  understood  the  de- 
tachment from  Ohio  had  arrived  with  the  provisions.  Colonels 
M- Arthur  and  Cass  selected  40O  of  the  most  effective  men,  and 
set  off  by  an  upper  route  through  the  woods-  The  same  day 
the  British  began  to  erect  batteries  opposite  Detroit. 

On  the  15th,  general  Brock  despatched  two  officers,  with  a 
flag  of  truce,  from  Sandwich,  which  had  previously  been  taken, 
possession  of  by  the  British,  requiring  the  surrender  of  Fort 
Detroit  to  the  arms  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  and  threatening 
that  the  Indians  would  be  beyond  his  controul  the  moment  the 
contest  commenced.  General  Hull,  in  his  answer,  replied,  that 
he  was  ready  to  meet  any  force  which  might  be  at  his  disposal, 
and  any  consequences  which  might  result  from  his  exertion  of 
it.  On  the  return  of  the  flag  of  truce,  the  British  commenced 
a  fire  upon  Detroit  from  their  batteries,  which  was  vigorously 
returned  from  the  American  fort.  The  British  continued  to  fire 
and  throw  shells  till  10  o'clock  that  night,  and  at  break  of  day 
the  filing  was  renewed  on  both  sides. 

§  14.  During  the  night  the  ships  of  war  had  moved  up  the 
river,  nearly  as  high  as  Detroit,  and  the  British  and  the  Indians 
landed  under  cover  of  their  guns,  and  were  advancing  towards 
the  fort,  when  general  Hull  ordered  a  white  flag  to  be  hoisted 
in  the  fort,  and  the  firing  to  be  discontinued  on  the  batteries. 

VOL  I.  PART.  II.  B 


10  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.  [CHAP.  i. 

The  firing  from  the  opposite  side  was  immediately  stopt,  and  a 
parley  was  held,  when  articles  of  capitulation  were  agreed 
upon,  by  which  fort  Detroit,  with  all  the  troops,  regulars  as  well 
as  militia,  with  all  the  public  stores,  arms,  and  every  thing  ejse 
of  a  public  nature,  were  surrendered  to  the  British.  The  mili- 
tia and  volunteers  were  to  be  permitted  to  go  home,  on  condition 
of  not  serving  again  till  exchanged.  The  detachment  with  the 
provisions  at  the-  river  Raisin,  and  that  under  colonel  M'Arthur, 
which  had  been  sent  to  meet  it,  were  included  in  the  surrender. 
It  was  stipulated  that  private  persons  and  property  of  every 
description  should  be  respected. 

Shortly  after  the  surrender  colonel  M'Arthur's  detachment 
returned  to  Detroit,  their  attempt  to  penetrate  to  the  river  Rai- 
sin having  proved  equally  unsuccessful  with  the  former  ones. 
When  they  arrived  within  a  mile  of  that  place,  they  Itarnt  its 
surrender,  on  which  a  council  was  held,  when  it  was  determined 
to  send  an  officer  to  the  fort  with  a  flag  of  truce.  In  the  even- 
ing he  returned  with  two  British  officers,  who  informed  them 
that  they  were  prisoners  of  war.  The  detachment  then  march- 
ed to  Detroit,  where  they  stacked  their  arms  on  the  citadel. 

The  day  following  the  surrender  of  the  army,  a  British  offi- 
cer arrived  at  the  river  Raisin,  and  delivered  to  captain  Brush, 
the  commander  of  the  detachment,  copies  of  the  capitulation, 
and  of  a  letter  from  colonel  M'Arthur,  stating  that  his  force 
was  included  in  the  surrender.  At  first  these  papers  were  con- 
sidered forgeries,  and  the  officer  and  his  party  were  put  into 
confinement;  but  their  truth  being  confirmed  by  several  soldiers 
who  had  made  their  escape  from  the  garrison  at  Detroit,  a  coun- 
cil of  the  officers  was  held  to  consider  what  was  proper  to  be 
done.  The  council  decided  that  general  Hull  had  no  right  to 
capitulate  for  them,  and  that  they  were  not  bound  by  his  acts. 
They  accordingly  concluded  instantly  to  return  to  Ohio,  and  to 
carry  with  them  all  the  public  property  that  was  possible.  It 
was  determined,  however,  that  it  would  be  improper  to  destroy 
those  public  stores  that  could  not  be  carried  off,  as  there  were  a 
number  of  American  families  who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  fort, 
and  some  soldiers,  who  were  too  sick  to  be  removed,  had  to  be 
left  behind.  It  was  likewise  conceived,  that  the  destruction  of 
the  stores  might  induce  the  enemy  to  deal  more  rigidly  with  the 
garrison  at  Detroit.  These  resolutions  of  the  council  were  im- 
mediately carried  into  effect,  and  the  detachment  returned  to 
the  settlements. 

Twenty- five  pieces  of  iron,  and  8  of  brass  ordnance  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  British  at  Detroit;  several  of  the  latter  being 
pieces  which  had  been  surrendered  by  Burgoyne  on  the  same 


$  15.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  11 

day,  35  years  before,  viz.  the  16th  of  August,  1777.  Twenty- 
five  hundred  muskets  and  rifles,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of 
ammunition,  likewise  fell  into  their  hands. 

The  reasons  stated  by  general  Hull  for  this  unfortunate  sur- 
render, were,  the  great  inferiority  of  his  force  to  that  of  the 
enemyf  joined  to  the  numerous  band  of  Indians,  who  were  daily 
increasing  in  number ;  the  hazardous  situation  in  which  the  de- 
tachment under  colonels  M'Arthur  and  Cass  was  placed  ;  and 
the  impossibility  of  furnishing  his  army  with  the  necessary  sup- 
plies of  provisions,  military  stores,  clothing,  and  comforts 
for  the  sick,  on  pack  horses,  through  a  wilderness  of  200  miles, 
filled  with  hostile  savages.  The  contest,  he  observes,  could  not 
have  been  sustained  more  than  a  day  for  the  want  of  powder, 
and  but  a  very  few  days  for  the  want  of  provisions.  u  A  large 
portion,"  continues  he,  "of  the  brave  andgallant  officers  and  men 
I  commanded,  would  cheerfully  have  contested  until  the  last  car- 
tridge had  been  expended,  and  the  bayonets  worn  to  the  sockets. 
I  could  not  consent  to  the  useless  sacrifice  of  such  brave  men, 
when  I  knew  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  sustain  my  situation. " 

§  15.  The  disasters  accompanying  this  expedition  did  not  end 
here.  On  the  change  of  prospects  in  general  Hull's  army  in 
Canada,  a  messenger  was  despatched  to  Chicago,  or  fort  Dear- 
born, situated  near  the  south-west  corner  of  lake  Michigan, 
with  orders  to  captain  Heald,  to  evacuate  that  post,  and  proceed 
with  his  command,  which  consisted  of  66  men,  to  Detroit. 
General  Hull  left  it  to  his  discretion  to  dispose  of  the  public 
property  as  he  thought  proper.  The  neighbouring  Indians, 
hearing  that  the  goods  in  the  factory  were  to  be  given  to  them, 
crowded  into  the  fort  from  all  quarters.  On  the  13th  of  Au- 
gust, captain  Wells  arrived  from  fort  Wayne,  with  30  Miamies, 
whom  he  had  brought  by  request  of  general  Hull,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  escorting  the  garrison  to  Detroit.  The  following  day 
all  the  goods  in  the  factory  store  were  delivered  to  the  Indians. 
The  surplus  arms  and  ammunition,  however,  and  the  spirituous 
liquors,  were  destroyed,  lest  the  Indians  should  make  a  bad  use 
of  them  if  put  into  their  possession. 

On  the  15th  the  garrison  commenced  their  march  for  Detroit, 
a  part  of  the  Miamies  being  detached  in  front,  and  the  remain- 
der in  the  rear,  as  guards,  under  the  direction  of  captain  Wells. 
Their  course  lay  along  the  beach  of  lake  Michigan,  the  lake  on 
their  left,  and  a  high  sand  bank  on  their  right,  distant  about  100 
yards.  They  had  not  proceeded  two  miles  before  they  were 
fired  on  by  the  Indians  from  behind  the  bank,  and  an  action  im- 
mediately commenced  ;  but  the  Miamies  giving  the  garrison  no 
assistance,  in  fifteen  minutes  thirty-eight  soldiers,  two  women, 


12  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.  [CHAP.  i. 

and  twelve  children  were  killed,  and  the  Indians  had  gained 
possession  of  all  their  horses,  provisions,  and  baggage.  The 
remainder  were  surrounded,  and  made  prisoners.  They  were 
then  carried  back  to  the  fort,  and  distributed  among  the  different 
tribes.  Next  morning  the  Indians  burnt  the  tort,  and  carried 
off  their  prisoners.  The  number  of  Indian  warriors  in  the  ac- 
tion was  between  four  and  five  hundred  ;  their  loss  about  fifteen. 
Captain  Heald  and  his  lady  were  carried  to  the  mouth  of  the 
river  St.  Joseph,  and  being  both  badly  wounded,  were  permitted 
to  reside  there  with  an  Indian  trader,  whence  they  took  an  oppor- 
tunity of  going  to  Michillimackinac,  where  the  captain  surrender- 
ed himself  to  the  British  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  A  lieutenant, 
twenty-five  non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers,  and  eleven 
women  and  children,  were  prisoners  when  the  captain  separated 
from  them. 

Bv  the  disastrous  issue  of  this  unfortunate  expedition  of  gen- 
eral Hull,  besides  the  loss  of  men  and  arms  at  Detroit,  a  weak 
frontier  of  vast  extent  was  exposed  to  the  brutality  of  Indian 
warfare,  which  continued  for  twelve  months  to  harass  the  wes- 
tern settlements,  and  the  territory  of  Michigan  was  occupied  as 
a  British  province. 


1.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  13 


CHAPTER  II. 


§  1.  Character  of  the  American  navy.  §  2.  Cruise  of  the  squadron  un- 
der commodore  Rodgers.  §3.  Pursuit  of  the  Belvidera.  §4.  Escape 
of  the  Constitution.  §  5  Capture  of  the  Giierriere.  §  6.  Cruize  of 
the  Essex.  §  7.  Rodgers'  second  cruize.  §  8.  The  Argus.  §  9. 
Capture  of  the  Macedonian.  §  10.  Capture  of  the  Frolic  and  Wasp. 
§  11.  Affairs  on  the  Lakes.  §  12.  Capture  of  the  Caledonia  and  De- 
troit. §  13.  Battle, of  Queenstown.  §  11.  Smyth's  abortive  expedi- 
tion. 
.- 

$  1.  FROM  the  disastrous  scenes  which  followed  the  first  ef- 
forts of  our  arms  in  the  north-west,  we  turn  with  pleasure  to 
record  the  glorious  events  that  have  taken  place  on  the  ocean. 
There  our  gallant  tars,  strong  in  spirit,  though  weak  in  number, 
in  despite  of  the  thousand  ships  of  the  self-styled  mistress  of  the 
ocean,  have  triumphantly  borne  the  flag  of  America  through 
every  sea,  from  the  rude  and  inclement  shores  of  Greenland,  to 
the  rich  and  temperate  regions  of  Chili  and  Peru.  The  enemy, 
with  his  immense  disparity  of  force,  has  to  boast  of  but  two  tri- 
umphs over  us,  whilst  we  can  claim  almost  as  many  as  we  have 
ships. 

But  the  courage  of  our  tars,  though  it  has  achieved  victories 
•which  have  thrown  a  halo  of  glory  around  our  little  navy,  forms 
by  no  means  the  most  conspicuous  or  lovely  trait  in  their  charac- 
ter. Their  modesty  and  disinterestedness,  their  humanity  and 
liberality  to  the  conquered,  have  been  such  as  uniformly  to  ex- 
tort the  grateful  acknowledgments  of  the  enemy  that  they  have 
thus  doubly  vanquished,  and  have  convinced  the  world,  that  the 
character  of  bravery  which  they  have  acquired  does  not  rest 
merely  on  the  exertion  of  physical  strength  and  technical  skill. 

Nor  has  the  naval  glory  of  America  suffered  by  the  few  re- 
verses that  have  taken  place.  On  no  occasion  has  its  honour 
been  in  the  slightest  degree  tarnished  ;  it  has  been  equally  sus- 
tained in  defeat  as  in  victory  ;  and  the  clouds  of  aclversit\  have- 
served  but  to  display  its  character  in  a  new  light,  and  to  show 
that  it  is  adequate  to  every  emergency. 

These  remarks  do  not  apply  solely  to  national  vessels.  The 
commanders  and  crews  of  our  privateers  have  not  been  outshone 
either  in  courage  or  magnanimity,  as  has  been  amply  proved  by 
their  valorous  deeds,  and  by  the  numerous  public  testimonies 


14  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  n. 

which  have  been  borne  to  their  worth  by  the  unflattering  tongue 
of  those  who  have  suffered  by  their  enterprize*. 

§  2.  A  few  days  previous  to  the  declaration  of  war  the  frigates 
United  States  and  Congress,  and  the  brig  Argus,  received  or- 
ders to  rendezvous  off  Sandy  Hook.  On  their  arrival  there  on 
the  21st  of  June,  they  were  joined  by  the  brig  Hornet  and  the 
President,  from  New  York,  and  the  same  day  commodore 
Rodgers,  who  commanded  the  squadron,  having  received  official 
intelligence  of  the  declaration  of  war,  they  put  to  sea  in  search 
of  a  British  convoy  which  had  sailed  from  Jamaica  in  the  pre- 
ceding month.  The  following  night  information  was  received 
of  the  convoy  from  an  American  brig,  which  had  passed  them 
four  days  before,  and  the  squadron  crowded  sail  in  pursuit. 

*  We  are  favoured  with  the  following  anecdote  by  a  gentleman  who  was 
present  when  the  circumstance  related  took  place,  he  having  been  captured  by 
the  British  squadron  in  a  merchant  vessel  which  sailed  from  England  before 
the  knowledge  of  the  war. 

In  July,  1812.  the  privateer  Dolphin,  captain  Endicot,  of  Salem,  was  cap- 
tured by  a  British  squadron  under  commodore  Bro-e,  and  the  captain  and  crew 
were  put  on  board  the  Eolus,  lord  James  Townshend  Endicot,  during  the 
short  space  of  time  that  had  elapsed  from  the  declaration  of  war  to  his  capture, 
had  taken  fifteen  vessels,  and  by  his  emerprize,  activity,  and  courage,  had  ex- 
cited a  considerable  degree  of  asperity  against  him  in  the  minds  of  the  officers 
of  the  squadron,  who  had  almost  daily  heard  of  his  exploits  On  the  arrival  of 
the  crew  on  board  the  Eolus,  they  were  treated  with  much  haughtiness,  and 
suffered  some  indignities.  Captain  Endicot,  in  particular,  was  treated  with 
such  haughty  reserve,  that  for  several  days  not  a  word  was  exchanged  with 
him. 

This  treatment,  however,  was  but  of  short  duration.  On  board  the  Dolphin 
the  British  found  more  of  their  own  countrymen  prisoners  than  there  were  men 
in  the  privateer,  and  on  examining  them,  they  were  equally  surprised  and  mor- 
tified to  hear  the  conduct  of  the  Americans  spoken  of  in  the  highest  terms  of 
approbation,  to  find  that  every  thing  had  been  done  to  render  their  situation 
comfortable,  and  that  all  on  board  had  shared  equally  in  every  luxury  that  the 
vessel  afforded  It  was  also  discovered,  that  in  a  former  cruize  i.ndicot  had 
captured  off  Nova  Scotia  a  vessel  in  which  there  was  an  old  woman  passenger, 
who  had  g  800  in  cash  on  board,  and  who  appeared  in  great  distress  at  the 
prospect  of  losing  her  property.  Endicot  had  with  difficulty  soothed  her,  as 
she  could  hardly  be  persuaded  that  her  little  all  was  not  irrecoverably  gone. 
The  crew,  on  hearing  of  the  woman's  fears,  unanimously  declared  that  not  a 
cent  of  it  should  be  touched.  In  the  warmth  of  her  gratitude  for  this  liberality, 
she  made  the  circumstance  publicly  known  through  the  newspapers  on  her  ar- 
rival in  the  United  States. 

The  British  officers,  ashamed  now  of  their  past  conduct,  and  mortified  at  be- 
ing outdone  in  magnanimity  by  a  privateersman,  changed  their  conduct  towards 
Endicor,  and  invited  him  to  mess  in  the  gun-room,  where  his  frank,  manly  be- 
haviour quickly  secured  him  their  highest  respect.  In  speaking  of  privateers, 
he  remarked  to  the  British  officers,  that  they  were  under  the  same  regulations 
as  national  vessels,  and  that  American  privateering  naturally  differed  from  that 
of  other  nations,  as  it  was  generally  considered  in  the  United  States  as  a  na- 
tional mode  of  carrying  on  the  war,  and  hastening  peace,  by  operating  on  the 
enemy  in  her  most  vulnerable  point. 


§  3.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  15 

§  3.  Next  morning,  however,  their  course  was  altered  by  the 
appearance  of  the  British  frigate  Belvidera,  to  which  they  im- 
mediately gave  chase.  The  pursuit  continued  from  six  in 
the  morning  until  past  four  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  commo- 
dore's ship,  the  President,  having  got  within  gun-shot,  commen- 
ced a  fire  with  the  bow  chase  guns,  at  the  spars  and  rigging  of 
the  Belvidera,  in  hopes  of  crippling  the  one  or  the  other  so  far 
as  to  enable  them  to  get  along  side.  The  Belvidera  returned 
the  fire  of  the  President  with  her  stern  guns,  and  the  firing  was 
kept  up  without  intermission  for  about  ten  minutes,  when  one 
of  the  President's  chase  guns  burst,  by  which  unfortunate  acci- 
dent sixteen  men  were  killed  and  wounded  ;  among  the  wounded 
was  commodore  Rodgers,  who  had  his  leg  fractured.  By  the 
bursting  of  the  gun,  and  the  explosion  of  the  passing  box,  from 
which  it  was  served  with  powder,  both  the  main  and  forecastle 
decks  were  so  much  shattered  as  to  prevent  the  use  of  a  chase 
gun  on  that  side  for  some  time.  Orders  were  therefore  given 
to  veer  the  ship,  and  a  broadside  was  fired,  in  the  hope  of  dis- 
abling the  spars  of  the  enemy.  This,  however,  did  not  succeed  ; 
but  considerable  damage  was  done  to  the  rigging  and  the  stern. 
The  utmost  exertion  was  now  used  on  board  the  President,  by 
wetting  the  sails,  &c.  to  gain  ground  of  her  opponent,  but  with- 
out success.  A  constant  firing  was  kept  up  on  both  sides,  the 
President  at  times  giving  broadsides,  until  about  seven  o'clock, 
when  the  Belvidera,  having  cut  away  her  anchors,  started  a 
number  of  water  casks,  and  thrown  overboard  her  boats  and 
every  thing  that  could  be  spared,  began  to  gain  ground,  and  to 
get  out  of  the  reach  of  the  President's  shot.  The  chase,  how- 
ever, was  continued  with  all  the  sail  our  squadron  could  set,  un- 
til about  half  past  eleven,  when  it  was  given  up  as  hopeless. 
Considerable  injury  was  done  to  both  vessels,  in  this  action, 
One  of  the  first  shots  fired  by  the  President  killed  one  man  and 
wounded  six  ;  the  captain  was  severely  wounded  in  the  thigh 
by  the  breaking  of  the  breeching  of  a  carronade.  On  board  the 
President  there  were  three  killed  and  nineteen  wounded,  the 
greater  part  by  the  bursting  of  the  gun. 

The  squadron  now  resumed  their  course  in  pursuit  of  the 
convoy  from  Jamaica,  but  did  not  receive  further  intelligence 
of  it  until  the  29th  of  June,  when  an  American  schooner  was 
spoken  on  the  western  edge  of  the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  than 
had  passed  them  two  days  before.  On  the  1st  of  July  they  fell 
in  with  quantities  of  cocoa-nut  shells,  orange  peels,  £c.  which 
indicated  that  the  convoy  were  not  far  distant.  On  the  9th  they 
captured  the  British  privateer  Dolphin,  which  had  passed  the 
convoy  the  preceding  evening.  The  pursuit  was  continued. 


io  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  n. 

but  without  success,  until  the   1 3th,  the  squadron  being  then 
within  eighteen  or  twenty  hours  sail  of  the  British  channel. 

From  this  they  steered  for  the  island  of  Madeira,  and  thence 
passing  the  Azores  stood  lor  Nevvloundland,  and  from  the  latter 
place  by  the  way  of  Cape  Sable  to  Boston,  where  they  arrived  on 
the  31st  of  August. 

Daring  a  great  part  of  this  cruize  the  weather  was  such  as 
to  obscure  every  distant  object  :  for  several  days  the  fog  was  so 
thick  as  to  prevent  the  vessels  of  the  squadron  from  seeing  each 
other,  even  at  cable's  length  asunder  ;  in  consequence  of  which, 
although  they  chased  every  vessel  they  saw,  and  brought  to 
every  thing  they  chased,  with  the  exception  of  four  vessels,  they 
made  only  seven  captures  and  one  recapture.  The  cruize, 
however,  was  not  barren  of  benefit  to  the  country,  as  the  know- 
ledge of  the  squadron's  being  at  sea  obliged  the  enemy  to  con- 
centrate a  considerable  portion  of  his  most  active  force,  and 
thereby  prevented  his  capturing  a  large  amount  of  American 
property  that  would  otherwise  have  fallen  a  sacrifice.  The 
vessels  that  escaped  were,  the  Brlvidera,  another  British  tri- 
gate,  by  night,  and  two  American  privateers. 

§  4.  The  Constitution  frigate,  under  the  command  of  captain 
Hull,  had  received  orders  to  join  the  squadron,  and  for  that  pur- 
pose sailed  from  Annapolis  on  .he  5th  ot  July.  On  the  17th, 
off  Egg  Harbour,  four  ships,  apparently  of  war,  were  discover- 
ed from  the  mast-head  to  the  northward,  and  in  shore  of  the 
Constitution,  and,  in  the  belief  that  it  was  the  American  squad- 
ron waiting  her  arrival,  all  sail  was  made  in  chase  of  them.  At 
four  in  the  alternoon  another  ship  was  seen  from  the  mast-head, 
to  the  north-east,  standing  for  the  Constitution  with  all  sail  set, 
the  wind  at  this  time  being  very  light,  which  course  she  con- 
tinued till  sun-set,  but  was  still  too  far  off  to  distinguish  signals. 
At  ten  in  the  evening,  being  then  within  six  or  eight  miles  of  the 
strange  sail,  the  private  signal  was  made  by  the  Constitution, 
and  kept  up  nearly  an  hour  ;  it  not  being  answered,  it  was  con- 
cluded that  she  and  the  ships  in  shore  were  enemy's  vessels. 
Captain  Hull  immediately  laid  his  vessel  in  the  same  course 
with  the  others,  having  determined  to  lie  off  till  day-light  to  see 
what  they  were. 

Next  morning,  about  day-light,  two  frigates  were  seen  from 
the  Constitution,  under  her  lee,  one  frigate  four  or  five  miles, 
and  a  line  of  battle  ship,  a  frigate,  a  brig,  and  a  schooner  ten  or 
twelve  miles  directly  astern,  all  in  chase,  and  coming  up  fast, 
having  a  fine  breeze,  and  it  being  nearly  calm  where  the 
Constitution  was.  After  sunrise,  finding  there  was  but  little 
chance  for  escape,  being  then  within  five  miles  of  three  heavy 


§5.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  17 

frigates,  the  Constitution  was  cleared  for  action,  and  two  guns 
were  run  out  at  the  cabin  windows,  and  two  at  the  ports  on  the 
quarter  deck.  At  eight,  four  of  the  ships  were  nearly  within 
gun-shot,  some  of  them  having  six  or  eight  boats  ahead  towing, 
with  all  their  oars  and  sweeps  out. 

In  this  perilous  situation,  a  new  expedient  was  determined 
on,  which  was  the  happy  means  of  saving  the  vessel.  Being 
in  only  twenty-four  fathoms  water,  boats  were  sent  out  ahead 
with  anchors,  and  the  ship  warped  up  to  them,  by  which  they 
soon  began  to  get  ahead  of  the  enemy.  They,  however,  adopted 
the  same  plan,  and  all  the  boats  from  the  furthermost  ships  were 
sent  to  assist  those  nearest.  For  two  days  and  nights  were  they 
chased  by  the  squadron,  sometimes  with  light  winds,  at  others 
warping  and  towing  in  a  calm,  seldom  much  beyond  gun-shot 
distance.  On  the  morning  of  the  20th  only  three  of  the  squad- 
ron could  be  seen  from  the  raast-head,  the  nearest  about  12 
miles  distant,  directly  astern.  Having  now  a  light  breeze,  all 
hands-  were  employed  in  wetting  the  sails  from  the  royals  down, 
and  the  enemy  was  soon  left  far  behind.  The  Constitution,  not 
being  able  to  find  the  United  States  squadron,  now  bore  away 
for  Boston,  where  she  shortly  after  arrived. 

§  5.  On  the  2d  of  September  the  Constitution  again  put  to 
sea,  and  on  the  19th  a  vessel  was  discovered  and  chased,  which 
at  half-past  3,  P.  M.  was  made  out  to  be  a  frigate.  The  ship 
was  immediately  cleared  for  action,  and  the  chase,  which  proved 
to  be  the  Guerriere,  backed  her  main-top-sail,  waiting  for  her  to 
come  down.  As  soon  as  the  Constitution  was  ready  she  bore 
down,  with  the  intention  of  immediately  coming  to  close  action ; 
but,  on  approaching  within  gun-shot,  the  Guerriere  gave  a 
broadside,  and  filled  away  and  wore,  giving  a  broadside  on  the 
other  tack,  but  without  effect,  her  shot  falling  short.  Both  ves- 
sels continued  to  manoeuvre  for  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  the 
Guerriere  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  a  raking  position,  the  Con- 
stitution for  the  purpose  of  closing  and  avoiding  being  raked. 
At  last  they  closed  and  kept  up  a  heavy  fire  for  sixteen  minutes, 
when  the  mizen-mast  of  the  Guerriere  fell  overboard,  and 
brought  the  ship  up  in  the  wind,  which  enabled  the  Constitution 
to  take  a  raking  position,  and  to  sweep  her  enemy's  deck  by  her 
grape-shot  and  musquetry.  The  fire  was  kept  up  with  equal 
warmth  for  fifteen  minutes  longer,  when,  by  the  falling  of  the 
Guerrierc's  main  and  fore-mast,  she  became  an  unmanageable- 
wreck.  On  seeing  this  the  Constitution  ceased  firing,  but  short- 
ly after,  perceiving  the  colours  still  flying,  she  took  a  raking  po- 
sition within  pistol  shot,  when  they  were  immediately  hauled 
down. 

VOL.  i.  PART  ir.  C 


18  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  n. 

Early  next  morning  a  sail  was  discovered,  and  all  was  got 
ready  tor  action,  but  she  shortly  after  stood  off  again.  At  day- 
light the  lieutenant  on  board  the  prize  hailed  the  Constitution, 
and  informed  that  she  was  in  a  sinking  condition  and  had  four 
feet  water  in  her  hokl.  Accordingly  the  prisoners  were  remov- 
ed, and  at  3,  P.  M.  she  was  set  on  fire,  and  shortly  after  blew 
up. 

Captain  Hull  in  his  official  letter  states,  that  all  his  crew  fought 
\vith  the  utmost  bravery;  from  the  smallest  boy  in  the  ship  to 
the  oldest  seaman,  not  a  look  of  fear  was  seen.  They  all  went 
into  action  giving  three  cheers,  and  requesting  to  be  laid  close 
along-side  of  the  enemy.  Their  humanity  was  equal  to  their 
bravery.  Captain  Dacres,  in  his  official  letter,  confesses  their 
conduct  to  have  been  "  that  of  a  brave  enemy  j  the  greatest  care 
being  taken  to  prevent  the  men  losing  the  slightest  article,  and 
the  greatest  attention  being  paid  to  the  wounded." 

On  board  the  Constitution  there  were  seven  killed  and  seven 
wounded  ;  on  board  the  Guerriere,  fifteen  were  killed,  and  sixty- 
three  wounded,  and  twenty-four  missing  ;  the  latter  were  stated 
by  one  of  the  officers  to  be  away  in  prizes. 

The  Constitution  rated  44  guns  and  carried  56  ;  her  comple- 
ment of  men  is  450.  The  Guerriere  rated  38  guns  and  carried 
49,  the  odd  gun  shifting,  which  makes  it  equal  to  two ;  she  had 
on  board  about  300  men. 

§  6.  Meantime  the  other  vessels  of  our  little  navy  were  not 
idle.  The  Essex  sailed  from  New  York  on  the  3d  of  July,  and 
shortly  after  fell  in  with  a  fleet  of  transports  under  convoy  of  a 
frigate  and  two  bomb  ketches  from  Jamaica  for  Halifax,  with 
troops.  The  Essex  kept  at  a  distance  until  night,  when  she  cut 
off  a  brig  with  150  soldiers  on  board,  which  was  ransomed  for 
a  bill  of  exchange  on  London  for  14,000  dollars.  The  men 
were  disarmed,  an  exchange  receipt  taken  for  them,  and  they 
severally  took  an  oath  not  to  serve  till  exchanged.  The  fleet 
consisted  of  seven  vessels.  Captain  Porter,  in  his  letter  to  the 
secretary  of  the  navy,  lamented  that  he  had  not  with  him  a  sloop 
of  war,  that  the  ships  of  the  convoy  might  have  been  kept  in 
plav  while  he  engaged  the  frigate.  "  Had  this  been  the  case," 
says  he,  u  instead  of  taking  only  200  prisoners,  I  have  not  a 
doubt  that  we  should  have  made  prisoners  of  the  whole  of  the 
troops,  as  well  as  the  frigate's  and  transports'  crews,  which  would 
have  exceeded  2000  men." 

The  following  day  the  Essex  captured  the  brig  Lamprey 
from  Jamaica.  Intelligence  was  received  from  her  that  the 
Thetis  frigate,  with  specie  and  a  large  convoy  for  England,  was 
to  have  sailed  about  the  26th  of  June,  and  that  several  running 


$  6.J  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  19 

ships  were  on  the  departure.  Every  exertion  was  therefore 
made  to  get  off  St.  Augustine  in  time  to  fall  in  with  them,  but 
without  effect,  as  fresh  gales  prevailed  from  the  south-west, 
which  increased  until  the  19th  of  July,  when,  by  the  violence  of 
the  tempest,  they  were  compelled  to  run  before  the  wind. 

On  the  13th  of  August,  the  Essex  captured  the  Alert  sloop 
of  war,  after  an  action  of  eight  minutes.  The  Alert,  which 
was  said  to  have  been  sent  out  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the 
Hornet,  ran  down  on  the  weather  quarter  of  the  Essex,  and 
gave  three  cheers,  at  the  commencement  of  the  action.  When 
she  struck  her  colours  she  had  only  three  men  wounded,  but 
she  had  seven  feet  water  in  her  hold,  and  was  much  cut  to  pie- 
ces. The  Essex  received  not  the  slightest  injury. 

Being  much  embarrassed  with  his  prisoners,  who  amounted, 
including  those  of  the  Alert,  to  500,  captain  Porter  concluded  an 
arrangement  with  the  captain  of  the  Alert,  for  despatching  that 
vessel  as  a  cartel  to  carry  the  prisoners  to  a  British  port.  Her 
guns  were  accordingly  thrown  overboard,  and  she  was  entrusted 
to  the  command  of  a  lieutenant  of  the  Essex,  with  orders  to 
proceed  to  St.  John's,  Newfoundland.  The  commander  of  the 
British  naval  forces  at  that  place,  in  a  letter  to  the  American 
secretary  of  the  navy,  strongly  protests  against  this  practice  of 
immediately  despatching  captured  vessels  as  cartels;  u  never- 
theless, as  a  proof  of  respect  for  the  liberality  with  which  the 
the  captain  of  the  Essex  has  acted,  in  more  than  one  instance, 
towards  the  British  subjects  who  have  fallen  into  his  hands, " 
and  through  a  desire  to  fulfil  the  engagements  entered  into  by 
a  British  officer,  he  consented  to  the  proposed  exchange.  The 
Alert  is  now  in  the  American  service. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  30th  of  August,  a  British  frigate 
was  perceived  standing  for  the  Essex  under  a  press  of  sail.  The 
Essex  was  instantly  prepared  for  action,  and  stood  towards  the 
frigate,  and  at  the  approach  of  night  a  light  was  hoisted  for  the 
purpose  of  preventing  a  separation.  At  nine  a  'signal  was  made 
by  the  enemy,  consisting  of  two  flashes  and  one  blue  light,  ap- 
parently about  four  miles  distant.  The  Essex  continued  to 
stand  for  the  point  where  the  signal  was  seen  until  midnight, 
when,  not  getting  sight  of  the  enemy,  she  was  hove  to  until  day- 
light, on  the  presumption  that  the  other  had  done  the  same,  or 
at  least  would  keep  in  the  neighbourhood;  but  to  the  surprise 
and  mortification  of  all  on  board,  in  the  morning  the  coast  was 
clear. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  off  the  tail  of  St.  George's  bank, 
two  ships  of  war  were  discovered  to  the  southward,  and  a  brig 
to  the  northward,  the  latter  in  chase  of  an  American  merchant- 


„ 


20  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.          [CHAP 

man.  The  Essex  gave  chase  to  the  brig,  which  attempted  to 
pass  her  and  join  the  other  two,  but  was  prevented,  and  compel- 
led to  stand  to  the  north.  She,  however,  escaped,  the  wind  be- 
ing light,  by  means  of  her  sweeps.  On  the  Essex  showing  her 
colours  to  the  American  vessel,  the  vessels  to  the  southward 
fired  signal  guns,  and  made  all  sail  in  chase  of  her,  and  by  4- 
P.  M.  had  gained  her  wake,  and  were  coming  up  very  fast. 
Calculating  on  escaping  by  some  manoeuvre  in  the  night,  cap- 
tain Porter  hoisted  American  colours,  and  fired  a  gun  to  wind- 
ward. The  ships  still  continued  to  gain  on  him,  and  the 
largest  being  considerably  to  windward  of  the  other,  and  only 
five  miles  astern,  captain  Porter  determined  to  heave  about  as 
soon  as  it  grew  dark,  and,  in  the  event  of  not  being  able  to  pass 
him,  to  fire  a  broadside  and  lay  him  on  board,  a  resolution 
that  was  received  with  three  cheers  when  proposed  to  the 
crew.  At  20  minutes  past  7  she  was  accordingly  hove  about, 
but  saw  no  more  of  the  enemy;  a  circumstance  which  seems  the 
more  extraordinary,  as  a  pistol  was  fired  by  accident  on  board 
the  Essex,  at  the  moment  when  she  must  have  been  at  the  short- 
est distance  from  them.  On  the  7th  the  Essex  arrived  in  the 
Delaware. 

§  7.  On  the  8th  of  October  the  President  frigate,  in  company 
with  the  United  States,  Congress,  and  Argus,  sailed  from  Bos- 
ton on  a  cruize.  On  the  13th  the  United  States  and  Argus 
parted  company  with  the  squadron  in  a  gale  of  wind.  On  the 
15th  the  President  and  Congress  captured  the  British  Packet 
Swallow,  having  on  board  specie  to  the  amount  of  nearly 
200,000  dollars.  On  the  31st  they  captured  a  south  sea  ship, 
loaded  with  oil,  one  of  two  ships  under  convoy  of  the  Galatea 
frigate,  to  which  they  gave  chase,  but  lost  her  in  a  fog.  During 
the  remainder  of  this  cruize  they  saw  no  other  British  vessel  ex- 
cept the  frigate  Nymph,  which  escaped  in  the  night.  On 
the  3 1st  of  December  they  arrived  at  Boston,  having  been  as 
far  to  the  east  as  longitude  22°,  and  to  the  south  as  latitude 
17°  N.,  whence  they  ran  down  the  trade  wind  to  50°  W.,  and 
on  their  return  to  the  north  passed  within  120  miles  of  Ber- 
muda. 

§  8.  The  Argus,  after  parting  from  the  squadron,  proceeded 
to  the  coast  of  Brazil,  sailed  along  the  north  coast  from  cape 
St.  Roque  to  Surinam,  thence  to  the  windward  of  the  West 
Indies,  and  thence  in  every  direction  between  the  Bermudas, 
Halifax,  and  the  continent.  After  being  out  96  days  she  arriv- 
ed at  New  York,  having  made  five  prizes,  valued  at  200,000 
dollars.  During  her  cruize,  she  fell  in  with  a  British  squadron, 
consisting  of  six  sail,  two  of  which  were  of  the  line,  one  of  them 


$9.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  21 

a  remarkably  fast  sailer.  The  favour  of  the  moon  enabling 
them  to  chase  by  night  as  well  as  by  day,  the  chase  was  continu- 
ed for  three  days,  without  intermission,  and  under  various  cir- 
cumstances, but  by  unremitted  exertions  the  Argus  was  enabled 
to  elude  the  pursuit.  Pressed  on  all  sides  by  the  number  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  baffling  and  unsettled  state  of  the  weather,  she 
was  at  one  time  within  musket  shot  of  a  74,  and  at  another  near- 
ly surrounded.  While  in  this  perilous  situation  she  actually 
captured  and  manned  one  of  her  prizes. 

§  9.  The  United  States  was  still  more  fortunate.  On  the 
25th  of  October,  off  the  Western  islands,  about  two  Aveeks  af- 
ter being  separated  from  the  squadron,  she  fell  in  with  and  cap- 
tured, after  an  action  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  the  British  frigate 
Macedonian,  of  the  same  class  and  strength  with  the  Guerriere. 
The  Macedonian,  being  to  windward,  had  the  advantage  of 
choosing  her  distance,  which  was  so  great  that  for  the  first  half 
hour  the  United  States  could  not  use  her  carronades,  and  at  no 
time  were  they  within  musket  or  grape  shot.  To  this  circum- 
stance, and  a  heavy  swell  which  prevailed,  is  ascribed  the  great 
length  of  the  action.  In  this  contest,  the  superiority  of  the 
American  gunnery  was  strikingly  obvious.  On  board  the 
Macedonian  there  were  36  killed  and  68  wounded;  she  also 
lost  her  mizen  mast,  fore  and  main-top-masts,  and  main  yard, 
and  was  much  cut  up  in  her  hull.  On  board  the  United  States 
there  were  only  five  killed  and  seven  wounded ;  the  damage 
sustained  by  the  ship  was  not  so  much  as  to  render  her  return  to 
port  necesary. 

The  United  States  arrived  off  New  London  with  her  prize 
on  the  4th  of  December,  and  thence  proceeded  through  the 
sound  for  New  York. 

An  equal  degree  of  liberality  was  displayed  by  commodore 
Decatur,  ate  on  a  former  occasion  by  captain  Hull.  All  the  pro- 
perty of  the  officers  and  men  on  board  the  Macedonian  was  gi- 
ven up  ;  that  claimed  by  captain  Garden  included  a  band  of 
music  and  several  casks  of  wine,  which  were  valued  at  $80O,and 
paid  for  by  the  commodore. 

While  on  this  subject,  we  cannot  forbear  to  mention  an  in- 
stance of  generosity  that  occurred  on  this  occasion  among  the 
common  seamen.  In  the  action  with  the  Macedonian  one  of 
the  carpenter's  crew  was  killed,  and  left  three  children  at  the 
mercy  of  the  world  and  of  a  worthless  mother,  who  had  aban- 
doned them.  On  the  arrival  of  the  two  frigates  at  New  York, 
their  grandfather  went  on  board  the  United  States  to  claim  the 
property  and  wages  of  his  son,  when  an  enquiry  into  the  circum- 
^tances  of  the  family  took  place,  and  a  plan  was  agreed  upon  by 


•J2  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  n. 

the  seamen  for  the  relief  of  the  orphans,  by  which  S  8OO  was 
instantly  collected  for  their  maintenance  and  education,  to  be 
placed  in  the  hands  of  suitable  trustees  for  the  purpose. 

§  10.  But  of  all  the  victories  which  have  been  achieved  by 
single  vessels,  perhaps  the  most  brilliant  is  that  which  it  has 
now  become  our* pleasing  task  to  record.     At  the  time   of 
the  declaration  of  war,  the  Wasp  sloop  of  war,  commanded  by 
captain  Jacob  Jones,  was  on  her  passage  from  Europe,  whither 
she  had  carried  despatches  to  our  ministers  in  England  and 
France.     She  arrived  in  the  Delaware  a  few  weeks  after  that 
event,  and  sailed  again  on  a  cruize  on  the  1 3th  of  October.     On 
the  16th  she  experienced  a  heavy  gale,  in  which  she  lost  her  jib- 
boom  and  two  men.     On  the  evening  of  the  following  day, 
about  eleven  o'clock,  in  a  clear  moon-  light  evening,  being  then 
in  the  track  of  vessels  passing  from  Bermuda  to  Halifax,  she 
found  herself  near  five  strange  sail,  steering  eastward.     "  As 
some  of  them  seemed  to  be  ships  of  war,  it  was  thought  better 
to  get  farther  from  them.     The  Wasp,  therefore,  hauled  her 
wind,  and  having  reached  a  few  miles  to  windward,  so  as  to  es- 
cape or  fight  as  the  occasion  might  require,  followed  the  strange 
sail  through  the  night.     At  day-break  on  Sunday  morning, 
captain  Jones  found  that  they  were  six  large  merchant  ships, 
under  convoy  of  a  sloop  of  war,  which  proved  to  be  the  Frolic, 
captain  Whinyates,  from  Honduras  to  England,  with  a  convoy, 
strongly  armed  and  manned,  having  all  forty  or  fifty  men,  and 
two  of  them  mounting  sixteen  guns  each.      He  determined, 
however,  to  attack  them,  and  as  there  was  a  heavy  swell  of  the 
sea,  and  the  weather  boisterous,  got  down  his  top-gallant  yards, 
close  reefed  the  top-sails,  and  prepared  for  action.      About  1 1 
o'clock  the  Frolic  showed  Spanish  colours  ;  and  the  Wasp  im- 
media^ely  displayed  the  American  ensign  and  pendant.     At  32 
minutes  past  11,  the  Wasp  came  down  to  windward,  fln  her  lar- 
board side,  within  about  sixty  yards,  and  hailed.     The  enemy 
hauled  down  the  Spanish  colours,  hoisted  the  British  ensign ;  and 
opened  a  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry — this  the  Wasp  instantly 
returned;  and,  coming  near  to  the  enemy,  the  action  became  close 
and  without  intermission.     In  four  or  five  minutes  the  main- 
top-mast of  the  Wasp  was  shot  away,  and  falling  down  with  the 
main-top-sail  yard  across  the  larboard  fore  and  fore-top-sail 
braces,  rendered  her  head  yards  unmanageable  during  the  rest 
of  the  action.    In  two  or  three  minutes  more  her  gaft  and  mizen- 
top-gallant-mast  were  shot  away.    Still  she  continued  a  close  and 
constant  fire.     The  sea  was  so  rough  that  the  muzzles  of  the 
Wasp's  guns  were  frequently  in  the  water.     The  Americans, 
therefore,  fired  as  the  ship's  side  was  going  down,  so  that  their 
shot  went  either  on  the  enemy's  deck  or  below  it,  while  the 


$  10.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  23 

English  fired  as  the  vessel  rose,  and  thus  her  balls  chiefly  touch- 
ed the  rigging,  or  were  thrown  away.  The  Wasp  now  shot 
ahead  of  the  Frolic,  raked  her,  and  then  resumed  her  position 
on  her  larboard  bow.  Hjsr  fire  was  now  obviously  attended  with 
such  success  and  that  of  the  Frolic  so  slackened,  that  captain 
Jones  did  not  wish  to  board  her,  lest  the  roughness  of  the  sea 
might  endanger  both  vessels  ;  but,  in  the  course  of  a  few 
minutes  more,  every  brace  of  the  Wasp  was  shot  away,  and  her 
rigging  so  much  torn  to  pieces,  that  he  was  afraid  that  his  masts, 
being  unsupported,  would  go  by  the  board,  and  the  Frolic  be 
able  to  escape.  He  thought,  therefore,  the  best  chance  of  se- 
curing her  was  to  board,  and  decide  the  contest  at  once.  With 
this  view  he  wore  ship,  and  running  down  upon  the  eu,emy,  the 
vessels  struck  each  other ;  the  Wasp's  side  rubbing  along  the 
Frolic's  bow,  so  that  her  jib-boom  came  in  between  the  main 
and  mizen  rigging  of  the  Wasp,  directly  over  the  heads  of  cap- 
tain Jones  and  the  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Biddle,  who  were,  at 
that  moment,  standing  together  near  the  capstan.  The  Frolic 
lay  so  fair  for  raking  that  they  decided  not  to  board  until  they 
had  given  a  closing  broadside.  WThilst  they  were  loading  for 
this,  so  near  were  the  two  vessels,  that  the  rammers  of  the 
Wasp  .were  pushed  against  the  Frolic's  sides,  and  two  of  her 
guns  went  through  the  bow  ports  of  the  Frolic,  and  swept  the 
whole  length  of  her  deck.  At  this  moment  Jack  Lang*,  a  sea- 
man of  the  Wasp,  a  gallant  fellow,  who  had  been  once  impressed 
by  a  British  man  of  war,  jumped  on  a  gun  with  his  cutlass,  and 
was  springing  on  board  the  Frolic  ;  captain  Jones  wishing  to 
fire  again  before  boarding,  called  him  down  ;  but  his  impetuosi- 
ty could  not  be  restrained,  and  he  was  already  on  the  bowsprit 
of  the  Frolic  ;  when,  seeing  the  ardour  and  enthusiasm  of  the 
Wasp's  crew,  lieutenant  Biddle  mounted  on  the  hammock  cloth 
to  board.  At  this  signal  the  crew  followed,  but  lieutenant  Bid- 
die's  feet  got  entangled  in  the  rigging  of  the  enemy's  bowsprit, 
and  midshipman  Baker,  in  his  ardour  to  get  on  board,  laying 
hold  of  his  coat,  he  fell  back  oh  the  Wasp's  deck.  He  sprang 
up,  and  as  the  next  swell  of  the  sea  brought  the  Frolic  nearer, 
he  got  on  the  bowsprit,  where"  Lang  and  another  seaman  were 
already.  He  passed  them  on  the  forecastle,  and  was  surprised 
at  seeing  not  a  single  man  alive  on  the  Frolic's  deck,  except  the 
seaman  at  the  wheel  and  three  officers.  The  deck  was  slippery 
with  blood,  and  strewed  with  the  bodies  of  the  dead.  As  he 
went  forward,  the  captain  of  the  Frolic,  with  two  other  officers, 

*  "John  Lang  is  a  native  of  New  Brunswick  in  New  Jersey.  We  mention, 
•with  grear  pleasure,  the  name  of  this  brave  American  seaman,  as  a  proof,  that 
conspicuous  valour  is  confined  to  no  rank  in  the  naval  service 


24  HISTORICAL  REGISTP:R.        [CHAP.  n. 

who  were  standing  on  the  quarter-deck,  threw  down  their 
swords,  and  made  an  inclination  of  their  bodies,  denoting  that 
they  had  surrendered.  At  this  moment  the  colours  were  still 
flying,  as  probably  none  of  the  seamen  of  the  Frolic  would  dare 
to  go  into  the  rigging  for  fear  of  the  musketry  of  the  Wasp. 
Lieutenant  Biddle,  therefore,  jumped  into  the^  rigging  himself, 
and  hauled  down  the  British  ensign,  and  possession  was  taken 
of  the  Frolic,  in  forty-three  minutes  after  the  first  fire.  She 
was  in  a  shocking  condition  ;  the  birth-deck  particularly  was 
crowded  with  dead  and  wounded,  and  dying  ;  there  being  but 
a  small  proportion  of  the  Frolic's  crew  who  had  escaped.  Cap- 
tain Jones  instantly  sent  on  board  his  surgeon's  mate,  and  all 
the  blankets  of  the  Frolic  were  brought  from  her  slop-room  for 
the  comfort  of  the  wounded.  To  increase  this  confusion,  both 
the  Frolic's  masts  soon  fell,  covering  the  dead  and  every  thing 
on  deck,  and  she  lay  a  complete  wreck. 

"  It  now  appeared  that  the  Frolic  mounted  sixteen  thirty-two 
pound  carronades,  four  twelve  pounders  on  the  main-deck,  and 
two  twelve  pound  carronades.  She  was,  therefore,  superior  to 
the  Wasp,  by  exactly  four  twelve  pounders.  The  number  of 
men  on  board,  as  stated  by  the  officers  of  the  Frolic,  was  one 
hundred  and  ten — the  number  of  seamen  on  board  the  Wasp 
was  one  hundred  and  two  j  but  it  could  not  be  ascertained  whe- 
ther in  this  one  hundred  and  ten  were  included  marines  and 
officers,  for  the  Wasp  had,  beside  her  one  hundred  and  two 
men,  officers  and  marines,  making  the  whole  crew  about  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five.  What  is  however  decisive,  as  to  their 
comparative  force,  is,  that  the  officers  of  the  Frolic  acknow- 
ledged that  they  had  as  many  men  as  they  knew  what  to  do 
with,  and  in  fact  the  Wasp  could  have  spared  fifteen  men. 
There  was,  therefore,  on  the  most  favourable  view,  at  least  an 
equality  of  men,  and  an  inequality  of  four  guns.  The  disparity 
of  loss  was  much  greater.  The  exact  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  on  board  the  Frolic  could  not  be  precisely  determin- 
ed ;  but  from  the  observations  of  our  officers,  and  the  declara- 
tions of  those  of  the  Frolic,  the  number  could  not  have  been  less 
than  about  thirty  killed,  including  two  officers,  and  of  the 
wounded  between  forty  and  fifty  ;  the  captain  and  second  lieu- 
tenant being  of  the  number.  The  Wasp  had  five  men  killed 
and  five  slightly  wounded. 

"  All  hands  were  now  employed  in  clearing  the  deck,  burying 
the  dead,  and  taking  care  of  the  wounded,  when  captain  Jones 
sent  orders  to  lieutenant  Biddle  to  proceed  to  Charleston,  or  any 
southern  port  of  the  United  States  ;  and  as  there  was  a  suspi. 
cious  sail  to  windward,  the  Wasp  would  continue  her  cruize. 


•$  11.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  25 

The  ships  then  parted.  The  suspicious  sail  was  now  coming 
down  very  fast.  At  first  it  was  supposed  that  she  was  one  of 
the  convoy,  who  had  all  fled  during  the  engagement,  and  the 
ship  cleared  for  action  ;  but  the  enemy,  as  she  advanced,  proved 
to  be  a  seventy-four — the  Poictiers,  captain  Beresford.  She 
fired  a  shot  over  the  Froiic  ;  passed  her  ;  overtook  the  Wasp, 
the  disabled  state  of  whose  rigging  prevented  her  from  escap- 
ing;  and  then  returned  to  the  Frolic,  who  could,  of  course, 
make  no  resistance.  The  Wasp  and  Frolic  were  carried  into 
Bermuda. 

"  It  is  not  the  least  praise  due  to  captain  Jones,  that  his  ac- 
count of  this  gallant  action  is  perfectly  modest  and  unostenta- 
tious. On  his  own  share  in  the  capture  it  is  unnecessary  to  add 
any  thing.  *  The  courage  and  exertions  of  the  officers  and 
crew,'  he  observes,  4  fully  answer  my  expectations  and  wishes. 
Lieutenant  Biddle's  active  conduct  contributed  much  to  our 
success,  by  the  exact  attention  paid  to  every  department  during 
the  engagement,  and  the  animating  example  he  afforded  the 
crew  by  his  intrepidity.  Lieutenants  Rodgers  and  Booth  and 
Mr.  Rapp,  showed,  by  the  incessant  fire  from  their  divisions, 
that  they  were  not  to  be  surpassed  in  resolution  or  skill.  Mr. 
Knight,  and  every  other  officer,  acted  with  a  courage  and 
promptitude  highly  honourable.  Lieutenant  Claxton,  v.  ho  was 
confined  by  sickness,  left  his  bed  a  little  previous  to  the  engage- 
ment ;•  and  though  too  weak  to  be  at  his  division,  remained 
upon  deck,  and  showed  by  his  composed  manner  of  noting  its 
incidents,  that  we  had  lost  by  his  illness  the  services  of  a  brave 
officer.'*" 

§  11.  Meanwhile  the  utmost  exertions  were  used  on  the  lakes, 
in  order  to  retrieve  the  disasters  occasioned  by  the  surrender  of 
the  force  under  general  Hull.  When  that  event  took  place, 
there  was  only  one  vessel  of  war  owned  by  government  on 
these  waters,  the  brig  Oneida,  of  16  guns,  on  lake  Ontario, 
commanded  by  lieutenant  Woolsey.  In  the  beginning  of  Octo- 
ber, commodore  Chauncey  arrived  at  Sack^tt's  harbour  with  a 
body  of  seamen  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  command,  and  sev- 
eral schooners  which  had  been  employed  as  traders  on  the  lake 
were  instantly  purchased  and  fitted  out  as  vessels  of  war,  and 
lieutenant  Elliot  was  despatched  to  lake  Erie  to  make  arrange- 
ments there  for  building  a  naval  force  superior  to  that  of  the  ene- 
my. Elliot  had  not  been  many  days  at  Black  Rock,  before  an 
opportunity  offered  for  a  display  of  the  most  determined  cour- 
age. 

*  Port  Folio, 
VOL.  I.  PART  II.  O 


26  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  n. 

§12.  On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  October,  two  armed 
British  vessels,  the  brig  Detroit,  late  the  United  States  brig  Ad- 
ams, and  the  brig  Caledonia,  came  down  the  lake  from  Maiden, 
and  anchored  under  the  guns  of  fort  Erie,  which  is  situated  nearly 
opposite,  and  within  a  few  miles  of  Black  Rock,  on  the  Niagara, 
near  where  it  leaves  the  lake.  Elliot  instantly  determined  to 
make  an  attack,  and  if  possible  get  possession  of  them ;  and  ac- 
cordingly despatched  an  express  to  hasten  the  arrival  of  some 
sailors  who  were  hourly  expected.  The  sailors  arrived  about 
12  o'clock,  5O  in  number.  '1 'hough  wearied  with  a  march  of 
500  miles,  they  were  only  allowed  till  midnight  to  refresh  them- 
selves, when  being  reinforced  by  50  of  the  regular  land  forces, 
they  put  off  from  the  mouth  of  Buffaloe  creek  in  two  boats,  with 
lieutenant  Elliot  at  their  head.  Having  rowed  into  the  lake 
above  the  vessels,  they  drifted  down  with  the  current,  till 
they  were  hailed  by  a  centinel  on  board  one  of  them,  when 
they  instantly  sprang  to  their  oars,  and,  closing  in  upon  the  ves- 
sels, they  jumped  on  board,  drove  the  British  below,  and  in  ten 
minutes  from  their  getting  along  side,  the  prisoners  were  all  se- 
cured, the  topsails  sheeted  home,  and  the  vessels  under  way. 
Unfortunately  the  wind  was  not  sufficiently  strong  to  carry  them 
up  against  a  strong  current  into  the  lake,  and  both  ran  aground. 
The  Caledonia,  however,  was  beached  under  the  protection  of 
one  of  the  batteries  at  Black  Rock,  but  the  Detroit  lay  near  the 
head  of  an  island  in  the  middle  of  Niagara  river,  exposed  to  the 
batteries  and  flying  artillery  of  the  enemy.  The  Americans  re- 
turned their  fire  from  the  Detroit ;  but  finding  they  could  not 
bring  the  guns  to  bear  with  advantage,  the  prisoners  were  all  got 
on  shore,  and  the  brig  was  deserted.  In  the  course  of  the  day 
several  unsuccessful  attempts  were  made  by  the  British  to  board 
and  destroy  the  military  stores  in  the  Detroit ;  but  a  considera- 
ble portion  of  them  was  secured  by  the  Americans,  after  which 
she  was  set  on  fire  and  abandoned. 

The '  Caledonia  belonged  to  the  N.  W.  Company,  and  was 
loaded  with  peltry,  which  was  estimated  at  150,000  dollars. 
The  Detroit  was  a  government  vessel,  which  was  captured  at 
Detroit.  She  was  laden  with  military  stores,  and  had  on  board 
sixty  men  and  thirty  American  prisoners.  She  mounted  six 
guns.  The  Caledonia  mounted  two  guns,  and  she  had  12  men, 
and  10  prisoners  on  board.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this 
gallant  exploit  was  only  two  killed  and  four  wounded. 

§  1 3.  The  force  stationed  on  the  Niagara  frontier  consisted 
of  about  5OOO  men,  of  whom  the  majority  were  militia,  under 
the  command  of  general  Van  Rensselaer.  The  ardour  of  the 
troops  having  been  very  much  excited  by  the  successful  issue  of 


$  14.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA. 

the  enterprize  of  lieutenant  Elliot,  an  invasion  of  Canada  was 
determined  on,  and  accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  of 
October,  the  troops  at  fort  Niagara  and  Grand  Niagara  having 
been  marched  to  Lewistown  the  preceding  evening,  the  soldiers 
began  to  embark  at  the  dawn  of  day,  under  cover  of  a  battery 
mounting  two  18  pounders  and  two  sixes. 

To  accomplish  their  landing  on  the  opposite  shore,  they  had 
only  12  boats,  each  capable  of  conveying  20  men,  Th$:  move- 
ment being  soon  discovered  by  the  enemy,  a  brisk  fire  of 
musketry  was  poured  from  the  whole  line  of  the  Canada  shore, 
aided  by  three  batteries.  In  the  face  of  this  tremendous  fire 
the  first  landing  was  effected  by  only  10O  men,  who  were  form- 
ed in  a  masterly  manner  by  colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  and  soon 
succeeded  in  gaining  the  heights,  and  reinforcements  arriving, 
the  forts  were  stormed,  and  the  enemy  driven  down  the  hill  in 
every  direction.  Having  received  a  reinforcement  of  several 
hundred  Indians,  however,  they  shortly  after  recommenced  a 
furious  attack  upon  our  troops,  but  were  quickly  repulsed,  and 
driven  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

At  this  interesting  crisis,  when  the  victory  was  already  achiev- 
ed by  a  handful  of  troops,  the  ardour  of  the  militia,  most  of 
whom  were  still  on  the  American  side,  suddenly  abated.  Either 
dismayed  by  the  yells  of  the  Indians,  or  by  the  appearance  of 
reinforcements  which  were  seen  marching  from  fort  George, 
they  began  to  raise  constitutional  objections  against  crossing  the 
lines,  and  at  last  absolutely  refused  to  embark.  Finding  it  im- 
practicable to  obtain  the  necessary  reinforcements,  the  general 
ordered  a  retreat;  but  unfortunately  the  boats  were  dispersed, 
and  many  of  the  boatmen  had  fled,  panic  struck.  This  little 
band  of  heroes  were  consequently  abandoned  to  their  fate,  and 
after  a  severe  conflict  with  a  very  unequal  force,  they  were  un- 
der the  necessity  of  surrendering.  The  loss  of  the  Americans 
in  this  battle  is  variously  stated,  but  is  believed  not  to  have  ex- 
ceeded 1000  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  of  whom  per- 
haps more  than  one-half  were  regulars.  The  loss  of  the  ene- 
my is  not  known,  but  must  have  been  considerable,  as  they  were 
twice  repulsed  and  driven  down  the  heights.  General  Brock, 
who  commanded,  was  killed,  and  his  aid-de-camp  mortally 
wounded. 

§  14.  General  Van  Rensselaer  shortly  after  this  affair  r^sign- 
ed  his  command,  which  devolved  on  general  Smyth,  who,  to- 
wards the  end  of  November,  projected  another  expedition,  which 
was  to  have  sailed  from  Buffaloe,  at  the  head  of  the  Niagara 
river.  This  expedition  failed  from  the  same  cause  which 


28  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  n. 

brought  about  the  disaster  at   Queenstown,  the  refusal  of  the 
militia  to  cross  the  lines. 

Preparatory  to  the  intended  invasion  two  parties  were  sent 
over,  the  one  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  a  guard  and  destroy- 
ing a  bridge,  below  fort  Erie,  the  other  to  spike  the  cannon  in 
the  enemy's  batteries  and  some  light  artillery  in  the  neighbour- 
hood. .  The  first  party  made  some  prisoners,  but  failed  to  des- 
troy th^bridge.  The  second,  after  rendering  unserviceable  the 
light  artillery,  separated  by  some  misapprehension,  and  a  part  of 
them  returned  with  the  boats,  leaving  behind  four  officers,  and 
60  men.  This  small  body,  however,  advanced  to  the  batteries, 
attacked  and  took  two  of  them  in  succession,  spiked  the  cannon, 
and  took  a  number  of  prisoners.  They  then  retreated  down 
the  Niagara,  where  they  found  two  boats,  on  board  of  which 
thirty  of  the  privates,  three  officers,  and  all  the  prisoners  em- 
barked, leaving  behind  a  captain  and  30  men,  who  were  captured 
by  the  British  before  the  boats  could  return. 

Meanwhile,  as  soon  day  began  to  appear,  all  the  troops  in  the 
neighbourhood  were  marched  to  the  place  of  embarkation.  A 
part  of  the  detachment  which  had  passed  to  the  opposite  shore 
having  now  returned  and  excited  apprehensions  for  the  residue, 
about  350  men  under  colonel  Winder  put  off  in  boats  for  their 
relief,  and  a  part  of  this  force  had  landed,  when  a  superior  force 
with  a  piece  of  artillerv  appeared.  A  retreat  was  then  ordered, 
which  was  effected  with  a  loss  of  six  killed  and  twenty-two 
wounded. 

The  general  embarkation  now  commenced  ;  but  there  not  be- 
ing a  greater  number  of  boats  than  would  hold  1500  men,  a 
council  of  officers  was  held,  at  which  it  was  determined,  that  as 
positive  orders  had  been  received  not  to  cross  with  less  than 
3000  men,  it  was  inexpedient  to  make  the  attempt  until  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  boats  could  be  procured  for  the  whole  number 
to  embark  at  once  ;  dependence  being  still  placed  on  the  volun- 
teering of  the  militia,  it  was  thought  that  the  actual  number  of 
volunteers  could  not  be  determined  without  an  embarkation. 
The  boats  were  accordingly  moved  a  short  distance  up  the 
river,  and  the  troops  disembarked. 

An  additional  number  of  boats  being  procured,  another  em- 
barkation took  place  on  the  morning  of  the  first  of  December, 
but  sfl'l  no  attempt  was  made  to  cross.  After  remaining  in  the 
boats  a  ft  w  hours,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  be  withdrawn,  and 
huts  to  be  built  for  their  winter-quarters. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  mortification  of  the  troops  on  this 
occasion,  and  indeed  the  disappointment  felt  generally  through- 
out the  country.  Proclamations  had  been  issued  by  general 


$1.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  29 

Smvth  a  short  time  previous,  in  which  reflections  had  been  cast 
on  the  conductors  of  the  former  enterprises  against  Canada,  and 
the  "  men  of  New  York"  had  been  called  on  to  join  the  army 
for  a  few  weeks,  and  acquire  glory  and  renown  under  his  ban- 
ners. A  number  of  volunteers  had  been  collected  by  this  invi- 
tation, some  of  whom  had  come  a  considerable  distance.  Their 
mortification  may  easily  be  conceived  ! 

General  Smyth,  in  his  official  report,  relies,  for  his  justifica- 
tion on  the  positive  orders  that  he  had  received  not  to  cross 
without  300O  men  at  once,  and  states  that  considerably  less  than 
200O  was  the  extent  of  the  force  which  could  be  depended  upon. 
If  this  were  the  case,  Smyth  was  certainly  fully  justified  in  de- 
clining the  invasion  ;  but  it  is  to  be  lamented  that  measures  for 
ascertaining  the  strength  of  the  army  could  not  have  been  adopt- 
ed without  such  a  waste  of  public  patriotism,  and  such  a  degra- 
dation of  the  military  character.  Pefiiaps  the  public  mind  was 
never  so  much  distracted,  nor  public  confidence  so  much  shaken 
as  on  this  occasion. 


CHAPTER  III. 

. 

§  1.  Military  ardour  of  the  western  states.  §  2.  Fort  Wayne  relieved. 
§  3.  Indian  expeditions.  §  4.  March  through  the  wilderness  to  Fort 
Defiance.  §  5.  Failure  of  Tupper's  projected  Expedition.  §  6.  Ex- 
pedition to  the  rapids  of  the  Miami.  §  7.  Second  expedition  thither. 
§  8.  Siege  of  Fort  Harrison.  §  9.  Relief  of  that  post.  §  10.  Expedi- 
tion against  the  Peoria  towns.  §  11.  Destruction  of  the  Indian  towns 
on  the  Wabash.  §  12.  Destruction  of  the  Indian  towns  on  the  Missis- 
sinewa.  §  13.  Expedition  against  the  Florida  Indians. 

§  1..  THE  intelligence  of  the  surrender  of  the  army  at  Detroit, 
and  of  the  exposure  thereby  of  an  extensive  frontier  to  the  rava- 
ges of  Indian  warfare,  excited  the  most  lively  sensibility 
throughout  the  western  country.  The  army  destined  for  the 
relief  and  reinforcement  of  general  Hull,  had  been  ordered  to 
rendezvous  under  general  Harrison  at  Louisville  and  Red  Banks 
early  in  August,  and  on  the  receipt  of  the  intelligence  of  the  ca- 
pitulation, volunteers  poured  in  so  fast  from  all  parts  of  Ken- 
tucky and  Ohio,  that  it  became  more  necessary  to  repress  than 
to  excite  the  ardour  of  the  citizens,  and  vast  numbers  were  dis- 
discharged,  and  with  difficulty  prevailed  on  to  return  to  their 
homes. 


.io  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.      ^[CHAP.  in. 

§  2.  The  first  operations  of  Harrison  were  directed  to  the  re- 
lief of  the  frontier  posts.  He  arrived  at  Piqua  on  the  2d  of 
September  with  about  250O  men,  whence,  after  completing  his 
arrangements  and  receiving  his  military  stores,  he  marched  for 
Fort  Wayne  on  the  5th.  This  post  is  situated  at  the  confluence 
of  the  rivers  St.  Mary  and  St.  Joseph,  which  after  their  junc- 
tion assume  the  name  of  the  Miami  of  the  Lake.  It  had  been 
for  some  time  invested  by  hostile  Indians.  On  hearing  of  the 
approach  of  Harrison,  however,  they  precipitately  retreated,  and 
the  army  arrived  at  the  fort,  without  opposition,  on  the  12th  of 
September. 

§  3.  Not  being  able  to  move  on  towards  Detroit  immediately 
on  account  of  the  want  of  proper  supplies,  Harrison  determined 
to  employ  the  intermediate  time  in  breaking  up  the  towns  of  the 
hostile  Indian  tribes.  For  this  purpose  two  expeditions  were 
organized,  one  of  wh.ich.ivas  destined  against  the  Miami  towns, 
situated  upon  the  Wabash,  a  little  below  its  confluence  with  the 
Tippecanoe  river,  the  other  against  the  Potawatamie  villages, 
which  stand  on  a  river  called  St.  Joseph,  which  falls  into  lake 
Michigan.  Both  of  these  detachments  were  successful.  Nine 
villages  were  burnt,  and  all  the  corn  cut  up  and  destroyed,  in  or- 
der that  the  want  of  provisions  might  force  the  Indians  to  leave 
that  part  of  the  country. 

A  few  days  after  the  return  of  the  troops  from  those  expedi- 
tions, general  Winchester  arrived  at  Fort  Wayne  with  addi- 
tional reinforcements.  Winchester  had  been  originally  destined 
to  the  command  of  this  army  by  the  president ;  Harrison,  who 
was  governor  of  the  Indiana  territory,  had  merely  been  appoint- 
ed a  major-general  by  brevet  by  the  governor  of  Kentucky,  and 
by  him  placed  in  the  command  pro  tempore,  on  account  of  the 
urgency  of  the  occasion.  On  the  arrival  of  Winchester,  Harri- 
son accordingly  relinquished  the  command,  and  set  out  for  his 
own  territory,  with  a  body  of  mounted  men,  for  the  purpose  of 
breaking  up  the  Indian  settlements  in  that  quarter.  He  had  not 
proceeded  far,  however,  before  he  received,  by  express,  a  com- 
mission from  the  president,  constituting  him  commander  in 
chief  of  the  north-western  army,  general  Winchester  to  act  as 
second  in  command.  These  counteracting  measures  are  said  to 
have  been  owing  to  the  ignorance  of  the  president,  at  the  time  of 
Winchester's  appointment,  of  the  brevet  appointment  of  Harri- 
son, and  to  the  general  expression  of  confidence  in  the  latter  by 
the  Kentuckians  having  reached  the  seat  of  government  shortly 
aftt T.  Fortunately  the  measure  created  no  jealousy  nor  dislike 
on  either  side. 


§  4.J  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  oi 

General  Harrison  arrived  at  Fort  Wayne,  and  resumed  the 
command  on  the  23d  of  September.  The  day  previous  to  his 
arrival  general  Winchester  had  marched  for  Fort  Defiance  with 
2000  men,  consisting  of  four  hundred  regulars,  a  brigade  of 
Kentucky  militia,  and  a  troop  of  horse. 

§  4.  In  this  part  of  the  country  one  of  the  greatest  difficulties 
which  an  army  has  to  surmount  is  that  which  arises  from  the 
difficulty  of  transporting  provisions  and  stores.  At  all  seasons 
the  route  is  wet  and  miry.  The  country,  though  somewhat 
level,  is  broken  by  innumerable  little  runs,  which  are  generally 
dry,  except  during  or  immediately  after  a  heavy  rain,  when  they 
are  frequently  impassable  until  the  subsiding  of  the  water,  which 
is  generally  from  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours.  Another  of  the 
difficulties  of  transportation  arises  from  the  nature  of  the  soil, 
which  being  generally  a  rich  loam,  free  from  stones  and  gravel, 
in  many  places  a  horse  will  mire  for  miles  full  leg  deep  every 
step. 

To  avoid  the  inconveniences  and  dangers  of  delay  in  travers- 
ing this  wilderness,  each  soldier  was  furnished  with  provisions 
for  six  days,  and  general  Harrison  proceeded  to  Fort  St.  Mary's, 
in  order  to  forward  a  detachment  with  supplies  by  the  Au 
Glaise  river,  which  affords  a  water  conveyance  for  a  considera- 
ble part  of  the  way.  This  detachment  was  placed  under  the 
command  of  colonel  Jennings. 

The  army  being  now  in  the  centre  of  a  country  which  pre- 
sented every  facility  for  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare,  the  utmost 
vigilance  was  necessary  to  prevent  a  surprise.  The  troops  were 
formed  into  three  divisions,  viz.  right  and  left  wings  and  centre. 
Near  the  centre  was  the  baggage,  with  a  strong  guard  in  front 
and  rear.  The  wings  marched  about  6O  or  100  yards  distant 
from  the  centre.  The  front  guard,  which  was  generally  about 
f!00  strong,  marched  far  enough  in  advance  for  their  rear  to  be 
even  with  the  front  baggage  guard,  and  were  preceded  by  a  com- 
pany of  spies,  40  in  number,  who  were  generally  one  or  two 
miles  in  advance.  The  rear  of  the  spies  was  covered  bv  the 
horse. 

So  great  were  the  obstructions  occasioned  by  the  underbrush, 
&c.  on  this  march,  that  the  army  never  advanced  more  than 
from  six  to  ten  miles  a-day.  They  generally  halted  about  three 
o'clock  to  lay  out  and  fortify  their  encampment,  which  was 
done  by  forming  round  it  a  breastwork  of  logs  and  brush,  of 
four  or  five  feet  in  height.  As  soon  as  it  was  dark,  small  fires 
were  kindled  at  the  mouth  of  each  tent,  and  large  fires  on  the 
outside,  about  twenty  paces  from  the  breastwork. 


TTT. 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER.     ^  [CHAP.  in. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  being  the  third  day  of  the  march, 
the  first  trail  \vas  discovered  ;  the  number  of  Indians  was  sup- 
posed, however,  to  be  only  twelve  or  fifteen.  They  were  pur- 
sued by  the  horse  for  six  or  eight  miles,  when,  being  pressed, 
they  scattered,  which  rendered  further  pursuit  impracticable. 
The  following  day,  ensign  Legett,  of  the  regulars,  and  four 
volunteers,  solicited  and  obtained  permission  to  push  on  to  Fort 
Defiance,  then  25  miles  distant,  to  discover  the  strength  and 
situation  of  the  enemy.  These  gallant  youths,  however,  had 
too  little  experience  of  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare  to  conduct 
with  success  an  enterprize  so  hazardous.  They  fell  the  same 
evening,  being  shot,  tomahawked,  and  scalped,  in  the  most  bar- 
barous manner,  and  in  that  condition  were  found  by  the  spies  on 
the  26th,  about  six  miles  in  advance  of  the  encampment  for  the 
night. 

Early  on  the  27th  the  spies  were  sent  out  to  bury  the  dead, 
supported  by  about  40  of  the  troop  of  horse.  They  had  not 
advanced  far  before  the  flankers  discovered  a  body  of  Indians 
in  ambuscade,  on  each  side  of  a  small  Indian  trail,  on  which  they 
supposed  the  spies  would  march.  Ballard,  the  commander, 
however,  aware  of  the  Indian  stratagems,  had  p'riced  his  men 
in  two  divisions,  and  marched  one  on  each  side  of  the  trail. 
Finding  their  plan  frustrated,  the  Indians  left  the  ambuscade, 
and  made  for  an  elevation  a  short  distance  ahead.  While  form- 
ing on  this  elevation  they  were  fired  on  by  the  spies,  which  they 
instantly  returned,  accompanied  by  a  loud  and  terrific  yell.  The 
cavalry  were  then  ordered  to  advance  to  the  charge ;  but  the  In- 
dians on  their  approach  raised  the  retreat  yell,  and  precipitately 
fled  to  the  swamps  and  thickets.  The  pursuit  was  continued  for 
two  or  three  miles ;  the  nature  of  the  country,  however,  render- 
ed it  impossible  to  act  with  effect.  In  this  skirmish  only  one 
American  was  wounded  slightly  in  the  ankle.  The  Indians 
were  supposed  to  have  suffered  more  severely,  as  several  trails 
of  blood  were  discernable.  After  interring  the  remains  of  their 
unfortunate  brethern,  the  detachment  returned  and  took  their 
usual  station  in  front  of  the  army. 

On  the  28th,  shortly  after  forming  the  line  of  march,  four 
Indians  were  discovered  and  fired  on  by  the  spies,  but  without 
effect.  A  general  engagement  being  now  expected  to  take  place, 
the  order  of  battle  was  formed ;  but  no  enemy  appearing,  the 
line  of  march  was  recommenced,  and  the  advanced  part  of  the 
horse  was  ordered  to  push  forward  to  ascertain  whether  or  not 
a  strong  force  of  the  enemy  was  at  hand.  In  a  short  time  a 
fresh  trail  of  Indians  was  discovered.  These  indications  of 


$5.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  JLJ 

the  near  approach  to  the  enemy  determined  the  general  to  cross 
the  river  as  soon  as  possible,  and  accordingly,  a  tolerable  ford 
being  discovered  by  the  troopers,  the  army  passed  over  and  en- 
camped on  the  opposite  shore.  Here  a  fresh  trail  was  perceived 
nearly  equal  to  the  one  made  by  the  army,  which  was  supposed 
to  be  the  trail  made  by  Jennings'  detachment,  a  supposition 
which  ^was  hailed  with  joy  by  the  soldiers,  whose  provisions 
were  now  exhausted.  Their  joy,  however,  was  but  of  short 
duration.  A  party  of  horse,  who  had  been  despatched  down  the 
trail,  reported  on  their  return,  that  it  had  been  made  b\  a  large 
force  of  the  enemy,  whose  encampment  they  had  discovered 
about  three  miles  below,  two  miles  above  Fort  Defiance,  with 
fires  burning,  war  poles  erected,  and  the  bloody  flag  displayed. 

Late  on  the  night  of  the  29th,  an  express  arrived  from  Jen- 
nings' regiment,  statii  g  that  they  were  encamped  on  the  Au 
Glaize,  40  miles  above  Fort  Defiance,  where  Jennings  had  been 
ordered  to  erect  a  block-house.  While  engaged  on  this  dut\  he 
had  ascertained  by  his  spies  that  Fort  Defiance  was  in  possession 
of  the  British  and  Indians,  and  he  had  therefore  thought  it  im- 
prudent to  proceed  further  without  reinforcements. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  30th  captain  Garrard  and  30  of 
his  troopers  were  ordered  to  proceed  with  all  possible  despatch 
to  Jennings'  block-house,  to  escort  a  brigade  of  pack  horses  with 
provisions  for  the  relief  of  ti»£  starving  'army.  The  detach- 
ment reached  the  block-house  in  the  course  of  the  following 
day,  and,  after  resting  a  few  hours,  again  set  off  as  an  escort  to 
the  provisions.  They  rejoined  the  army  on  the  evening  of  the 
2vi  of  October,  drenched  with  36  hours  incessant  rain.  This 
was  a  joyful  evening  to  the  soldiers.  Provisions  were  now 
plenty,  and  the  escort  was  accompanied  by  their  beloved  gene- 
ral Harrison,  who  resumed  the  command.  During  the  absence 
of  the  detachment,  the  army  had  taken  possession  of  Fort  Defi- 
ance, the  British  and  Indians  having  retreated  down  the  river. 

§  5.  On  the  4th  of  October,  general  Harrison,  having  left  the 
force  at  Fort  Defiance,  which  constituted  the  left  wing  of  the 
army,  under  general  Winchester,  returned  to  the  settlements  to 
organize  and  bring  up  the  centre  and  right  wing.  On  the  day 
of  his  departure,  he  ordered  general  Tupper,  with  the  mounted 
troops  under  his  command,  consisting  nearly  of  1000  men,  to 
proceed  on  an  expedition  to  the  Rapids.  This  expedition  was 
never  carried  into  effect.  Its  failure  arose  partly  from  the  un- 
disciplined state  of  the  troops  which  had  been  selected  for  the 
enterprize,  and  partly  from  a  disagreement  which  took  place 
hetwe.cn  their  commander  and  general  Winchester,  who  com- 
vm.  j.  PART.  IT.  E 


o4  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  in. 

manded  at  Fort  Defiance*.     The  inefficiency  of  raw  miliiia  was 
perhaps  never  more  strikingly  displayed  than  on  this  occasion. 

General  Tupper,  alter  returning  with  his  mounted  volunteers 
to  Urbanna,  was  despatched  with  the  centre  of  the  north-west- 
ern army,  consisting  of  a  regiment  of  regulars,  and  the  Ohio 
voluntecrsancl  militia,  to  Fort  M'Arthur.  The  right  wing,  con- 
sisting of  a  brigade  of  Penns\  Ivania,  and  a  brigade  of  Virginia 
jnilitia,  were  s-ationed  at  Sanduskv. 

§  6.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  at  Fort  M' Arthur,  general  Tup- 
per organized  another  expedition  for  the  purpose  of  proceeding 
to  the  Rapids  of  the  Miami.  He  left  the  the  fort  on  the  10th, 
with  a  force  consisting  of  upwards  of  600  men,  the  soldiers  car- 
rying provisions  in  their  knapsacks  for  five  days.  On  the  eve- 
ning of  the  13th,  being  then  about  13  miles  from  the  rapids,  an 
officer  was  despatched  to  examine  the  situation  of  the  enemy,  by 
whom  it  was  ascertained  that  the  British  and  Indians  still  occu- 
pied the  settlements  and  fort  at  the  rapids,  and  that  the  boats 
and  vessels  lay  a  little  below. 

In  consequence  of  this  information  the  detachment  halted 
until  sunset,  when  they  proceeded  to  a  ford  about  2  J  miles  above 
the  rapids,  whence  scouts  were  again  detached  to  observe  more 
particularh  the  situation  and  force  of  the  enemy.  The  neces- 
sarv  information  being  soon  received,  the  troops  were  ordered 
to  cross  the  river,  in  order  to  attack  the  enemy  at  the  dawn  of 
day.  Unfortunately,  however,  it  was  impracticable  for  the 
troops  to  cross.  Every  expedient  that  could  be  devised  was 
unavailing,  and  a  number  of  men  who  were  swept  down  the 
rapids  were  with  difficulty  saved,  with  the  loss  of  their  muskets 
and  ammunition. 

In  the  morning,  convinced  that  he  was  unable  to  get  at  the 
enemy,  general  Tupper  ordered  the  spies  to  endeavour  to  decoy 
them  over.  They  accordingly  proceeded  down  and  discovered 
themselves.  The  stratagem,  however,  proved  unsuccessful ; 
for  though  a  few  Indians  crossed  the  river,  thev  were  too  cautious 
to  be  drawn  within  the  lines.  The  main  body  was  then  march- 
ed down  the  Miami,  opposite  to  the  encampment  of  the  enemy. 
They  appeared  in  considerable  disorder  as  the  advanced  guard 
op. ned  from  the  woods.  The  British,  who  were  in  the  vessels 
and  boats,  immediately  slipped  their  cables  and  proceeded  down 
the  river.  The  Indian  women  were  seen  running  off  on  the  road 
leading  to  Detroit ;  the  men  commenced  a  fire  at  the  detach- 
ment from  their  musktts  and  a  four-pounder. 

*  For  Topper's  report  of  the  causes  of  the  failure  of  this  expedition,  and  the 
proceedings  of  thec  ourt  of  enquiry  on  his  conduct,  seep.  134  of  the  'Official 
Documents  in  this  volume. 


$6.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  35 

General  Tapper  having  observed  a  number  of  mounted  Indi- 
ans proceeding  up  the  river,  and  fearful  of  the  camp  being  sur- 
prised, ordered  the  detachment  to  return.  When  within  about 
a  mile  of  the  encampment,  some  of  the  soldiers,  pressed  proba- 
bly by  hunger,  the  provisions  being  now  entirely  exhausted,  fired 
upon  a  drove  of  hogs,  contrary  to  orders,  and  pursued  them 
nearly  half  a  mile;  others  left  the  ranks,  and  entered  a  fit  Id 
to  gather  corn.  At  this  moment,  a  body  of  mounted  Indians 
came  upon  them,  killed  four  men,  and  then  commenced  an  at- 
tack on  the  rear  of  the  right  flank.  The  column  being  instantly 
thrown  back,  commenced  a  brisk  fire,  which  caused  the  Indians 
to  giv«  ground ;  but  they  quickly  rallied,  and,  passing  along  the 
van-guard,  made  a  violent  charge  upon  the  rear  of  the  left  co- 
lumn. This  column  was  also  thrown  briskly  back,  and  every  at- 
tempt made  to  break  the  lines  being  resisted,  in  20  minutes  the 
Indians  were  driven  from  the  field.  Conceiving,  however,  that 
the  charge  of  the  mounted  men  was  merely  intended  to  throw 
the  troops  into  disorder  to  make  room  for  an  attack  of  the  foot, 
general  Tupper  ordered  the  right  column  to  move  up  into 
marching  order,  lest  that  attack  should  be  made  on  the  right 
flank.  This  column  had  scarceh  regained  their  position,  when 
information  was  received  that  the  Indians  were  crossing  the 
river  in  considerable  numbers.  Tupper  immediately  ordered 
the  left  column  to  resume  their  marching  order,*  and  proceeded 
to  the  head  of  the  right  column,  where  he  found  that  a  number 
of  Indians  had  crossed  on  horse-back,  that  some  were  still  in 
the  middle  of  the  river,  and  about  200  on  the  opposite  bank.  A 
battalion  was  immediately  ordered  to  advance  and  dislodge 
them.  This  attack  was  successful.  The  Indiana  were  for- 
ced to  retire,  and  several  of  them  were  shot  from  their  horses 
while  crossing  the  river. 

The  horses  rode  by  the  Indians  in  this  attack  are  stated  to 
have  been  much  superior  to  those  they  had  been  accustomed  to 
use.  They  were  high  and  active  ;  they  were  also  supplied  with 
pistols  and  holsters.  A  number  of  Indians  were  shot  from 
their  horses ;  but  they  were  with  great  dexterity  thrown  on 
again,  and  carried  off  the  field.  Split  Log  led  on  several  of 
the  charges  at  the  commencement  of  the  attack,  mounted  on  a 
well  trained  white  horse,  from  which  he  sometimes  fired,  and  at 
other  times  leaped  from  him  behind  a  tree.  It  was  supposed  that 
he  was  wounded  in  the  action,  as  another  warrior  rode  the 
same  horse  in  some  of  the  last  charges. 

After  the  retreat  of  the  Indians  the  detachment  were  compel- 
led to  return  with  all  speed  to  Fort  M'Arthur,  as  their  provi- 


36  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  in. 

sions  were  consumed,  and  they  had  to  march  40  miles  before 
there  was  a  possibility  of  supply. 

§7.  On  the  13th  of  December,  general  Tupper  conducted 
another  detachment  to  the  rapids,  consisting  of  between  150O 
and  ,000  men.  On  the  east  side  ot  the  Miami,  a  few  miles 
above  the  rapids,a  body  of  the  enemy  was  discovered, consisting 
of  300  British  regular^  and  600  or  700  Indians.  Having  ascertain- 
ed the  position  of  the  enemy,  Tupper  ordered  a  small  detachment 
to  advance  and  commence  an  attack,  and  then  to  retreat.  This 
stratagem  succeeded.  The  enemy  pursued  with  impituosit 
until  they  were  nearly  surrounded,  and  on  being  charged,  we 
repulsed  on  all  quarters  with  considerable  slaughter,  and  put 
flight.  Fourteen  or  fifteen  of  the  British,  and  seventy  or  eigh- 
t  Indians,  wen  left  on  the  field.  Many  were  likewise  killed 
in  swimming  across  the  river,  into  which  they  precipitately 
plunged,  that  being  their  only  means  of  escape. 

§  8.  While  these  operations  were  carried  on  on  the  borders 
of  lake  Erie,  several  expeditions  were  set  on  foot  against  the 
Indian  settlements  in  the  Indiana  and  Illinois  territories.  A 
portion  of  the  Kentucky  volunteers,  under  general  Hopkins, 
and  a  corps  of  Kentucky  rangers,  commanded  by  colonel  Rus- 
sel,  were  particularly  destined  for  this  service.  This  force  hav- 
ing met  at  Vincennes,  it  was  agreed  that  Hopkins  should  first 
proceed  to  the  "relief  of  Fort  Harrison,  a  post  higher  up  the 
W abash,  which  was  at  that  time  invested  by  the  Indians,  and 
should  then  proceed  to  the  Peona  Indian  towns  on  the  river 
Illinois,  where  he  was  to  be  met  by  the  rangers  under  Russell. 
Another  detachment,  under  captain  Craig,  was  to  join  them  at 
the  same  place.  This  last  detachment  was  to  march  up  the 
Illinois  river. 

Captain  Taylor,  the  commander  at  Fort  Harrison,  having 
received  information  of  the  approach  of  the  hostile  Indians  a 
short  time  before  the\  made  their  appearance,  had  used  every  pre- 
caution that  the  smallness  of  his  garrison  would  admit  of.  The 
first  hostile  s\  mptoms  appeared  on  the  evening  of  the  3d  of 
September,  when  t\vo  young  men,  who  had  been  employed  a 
short  distance  from  the  fort,  were  shot  and  scalped,  and  were 
found  in  that  condition  the  next  morning  by  a  small  party  that 
had  been  sent  out  to  seek  them.  This  circumstanc^caused 
them  to  redouble  their  vigilance,  and  the  officers  of  tire  guard 
were  directed  to  walk  the  round  all  night,  in  order  if  possible  to 
prevent  any  surprize. 

About  1 1  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  4th,  the  garrison  be- 
ing a'armed  by  the  firing  of  one  of  the  centinels,  every  man  in- 
stantly flew  to  his  post.  In  a  few  minutes  the  cry  of  fire  added 


4  s.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  37 

to  the  alarm ;  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  lower  block-house, 
in  which  had  been  deposited  the  property  of  the  contractor,  had 
been  fired  by  the  Indians.  Such  was  the  darkness  of  the  night 
that,  although  the  upper  part  of  the  building  was  occupied  by  a 
corporal's  guard  as  an  alarm  post,  yet  the  Indians  succeeded  in 
Sring  it  undiscovered,  and  unfortunately,  a  few  minutes  after  the 
discovery  of  the  fire,  it  communicated  to  a  quantity  of  whiskey 
that  had  been  deposited  there,  and  immediately  ascended  to  the 
roof,  baffling  every  effort  that  was  made  to  extinguish  it.  As  the 
block-house  adjoined  the  barracks,  which  constituted  part  of  the 
fortifications,  most  of  the  men  gave  themselves  up  for  lost ;  and 
indeed  the  raging  of  the  fire,  the  yells  of  the  Indians,  and  the 
cries  of  the  women  and  children  (who  had  taken  refuge  in  the 
fort),  were  sufficient  to  appal  the  stoutest  heart.  Happily  the 
presence  of  mind  of  the  commander  never  forsook  him.  He 
instantly  stationed  a  part  of  his  men  on  the  roof  of  the  barracks, 
with  orders  to  tear  off  that  part  adjoining  the  block-house,  while 
the  remainder  kept  up  a  constant  fire  on  the  Indians  from 
another  block-house  and  two  bastions.  The  roof  was  torn  off" 
under  a  shower  of  bullets  from  without,  by  which,  however,  only 
one  man  was  killed  and  two  wounded. 

By  this  success  the  soldiers  were  inspired  with  firmness,  and 
now  used  such  exertions,  that  before  day  they  had  not  only  ex- 
tinguished the  fire,  but  raised  a  breastwork  five  or  six  feet  high 
in  the  gap  occasioned  by  the  burning  of  the  block-house,  al- 
though the  Indians  continued  to  pour  in  a  heavy  fire  of  ball  and 
showers  of  arrows  during  the  whole  time  the  attack  lasted 
(which  was  seven  hours),  in  every  part  of  the  parade. 

On  the  first  appearance  of  the  fire,  two  of  the  soldiers  had,  in 
despair,  jumped  the  pickets.  One  of  them  returned  about  an 
hour  before  day,  and,  running  up  towards  the  gate,  begged  for 
God's  sake  that  it  might  be  opened.  On  suspicion  that  this  was 
an  Indian  stratagem,  he  was  fired  at.  He  then  ran  to  the  other 
bastion,  where,  his  voice  being  known,  he  was  directed  to  lie 
down  till  day  light  behind  an  empty  barrel  that  happened  to  be 
outside  of  the  pickets.  This  poor  fellow  was  shockingly 
woundfed,  and  his  companion  cut  to  pieces  by  the  Indians. 

After  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  till  six  in  the  morning,  which 
after  day-light  was  returned  with  considerable  effect  by  the  gar- 
rison, the  Indians  retreated  out  of  reach  of  the  guns.  They 
then  drove  together  all  the  horses  and  hogs  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, and  shot  them  in  sight  of  their  owners.  The  whole  of  the 
horned  cattle  they  succeeded  in  carrying  off. 

In  this  attack  the  Americans  had  but  three  killed,  and  three 
wounded,  including  the  two  that  jumped  the  pickets.  The  In- 


38  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  in. 

dian  loss  was  supposed  to  be  considerable,  but  as  they  always 
carry  off  both  their  dead  and  wounded,  the  amount  could  not  be 
ascertained.  At  the  moment  of  the  attack  the- re  were  only  fif- 
teen effective  men  in  the  garrison,  the  others  being  either  sick 
or  convalescent. 

§  9.  The  Indians,  disheartened  by  this  failure,  made  no  fur- 
ther attempt  on  the  fort,  but  the  garrison  still  remained  in  a  per- 
ilous situation,  as  the  greater  part  of  their  provisions  had  been 
destroyed  by  the  fire,  and  the  loss  of  their  stock  prevented  fu- 
ture supplies.  Captain  Taylor  therefore-  attempted  to  send,  by 
night,  two  men  in  a  ca,noe  down  the  river  to  Vincennes,  to  make 
known  his  situation,  but  they  were  forced  to  return,  the  river 
being  found  too  well  guarded.  The  Indians  had  made  a  fire  on 
the  bank  of  the  river,  a  short  distance  bt-low  the  garrison,  which 
gave  them  an  opportunity  of  seeing  any  craft  that  might  attempt 
to  pass,  with  a  canoe  ready  below  to  intercept  it.  A  more  fortu- 
nate attempt  was  made  by  land,  and  the  garrison  was  immediate- 
ly after  relieved  by  the  force  under  general  Hopkins,  consisting 
of  nearly  4000  men. 

§  10.  After  the  relief  of  Fort  Harrison,  Hopkins  began  his 
preparations  for  his  expedition  against  the  Peoria  towns.  They 
commenced  their  march  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  October, 
and  continued  it  for  four  days  in  a  direction  nearly  north.  But 
here  again  the  spirit  of  insubordination  began  to  show  itself. 
The  general  states  in  his  official  dispatch,  that  having  ordered  a 
halt  in  the  afternoon  of  the  4th  day,  in  a  fine  piece  of  grass,  for 
the  purpose  of  refreshing  the  horses,  he  was  addressed  by  one  of 
his  majors,  in  the  most  rude  and  dictatorial  manner,  requiring 
him  instantly  to  resume  his  march,  or  his  battalion  would  break 
from  the  army  and  return.  Of  the  reply  of  the  general  to  this 
modest  request  we  are  not  informed.  Next  evening,  however, 
an  event  took  place,  which  seems  to  have  spread  the  spirit  of 
discontent  through  the  whole  detachment.  A  violent  gust  of 
wind  having  arisen  about  sun-set,  just  as  the  the  troops  had  en- 
camped, the  Indians  set  fire  to  the  prairie  all  around  them,  which 
drove  furiously  on  the  camp.  They  succeeded,  however,  in 
protecting  themselves  by  firing  the  grass  around  the  encamp- 
ment. 

Next  morning,  in  consequence  of  the  discontent  that  prevail- 
ed, the  gvneral  called  a  council  of  his  officers,  to  whom  he  stated 
his  apprehensions,  the  expectations  of  the  country,  and  the  dis- 
grace attending  the  failure  of  the  expedition  ;  and,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  exhausted  state  of  the  horses,  and  the  want  of  provi- 
sions. He  then  requested  the  commandants  of  each  regiment 
to  convene  the  whole  of  the  officers  belonging  to  it,  and  to  take 


$  11.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  39 

full\  the  sense  of  the  army  on  the  measures  to  be  pursued  ;  add- 
ing, that  if  500  volunteers  turned  out  he  would  put  himself  at 
their  head,  and  proceed  in  quest  of  the  Indian  towns,  and  the 
rest  of  the  army  might  return  to  Fort  Harrison.  In  less  than 
an  hour  the  report  was  made  almost  unanimously  to  return.  In 
vain  did  the  general  request  that  he  might  dictate  the  course  for 
that  day  only.  His  authority  was  now  at  an  end  ;  and  all  the 
efforts  of  the  officers  were  necessary  to  restore  order  in  the 
ranks,  and  to  conduct  the  retreat  without  danger  from  the  sur- 
rounding though  unseen  foe. 

Though  this  expedition  returned  almost  without  obtaining 
the  sight  of  an  enemy,  yet  it  was  not  altogether  unproductive  of 
benefit.  The  Indians  of  the  neighbouring  towns,  hearing  of  its 
approach,  had  marched  the  greater  part  of  their  warriors  to 
meet  it,  leaving  their  villages  in  a  detenceless  condition.  In 
this  state  they  were  found  by  colonel  Russell,  who  had  marched 
upon  them  in  the  expectation  of  meeting  with  Hopkins'^rrmy, 
and  his  detachment  attacked  and  defeated  those  who  had  been 
left  behind.  Having  driven  them  into  a  swamp,  through  which 
the  rangers  pursued  them  for  three  miles,  up  to  their  waists  in 
mud  and  water,  he  returned  and  burnt  their  towns,  and  destroy- 
ed their  corn.  The  number  of  warriors  who  advanced  to  meet 
Hopkins  from  those  towns  is  stated  to  have  amounted  to  TOO  j 
R  ssell's  force  consisted  of  not  more  than  400  men.  A  con- 
siderable number  of  Indians  were  killed  in  this  attack.  On  the 
part  of  the  Americans  there  were  only  four  wounded,  none  of 
them  mortally. 

Craig's  force  was  still  smaller  than  that  under  Russell ;  it  is 
stated  to  have  consisted  of  not  more  than  80  men.  With  this 
small  body  he  marched  up  the  Illinois  river,  twenty  miles  above 
the  town  destro\  ed  by  Russell.  Here  he  attacked  an  Indian 
settlement,  which  he  totally  destroyed,  with  all  the  improvements, 
and  took  42  prisoners,  one  of  them  an  Englishman,  and  a  large 
collection  of  furs.  He  returned  with  his  prisoners  and  booty, 
without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

§11.  In  the  month  of  November  another  Indian  expedition 
was  undertaken  by  general  Hopkins,  with  about  1250  men. 
This  was  directed  against  the  towns  on  the  Wabash,  where  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe  had  been  fought  about  twelve  months  be- 
fore. Having  left  Fort  Harrison  on  the  1 1th,  accompanied  with 
boats  for  the  transportation  of  provisions,  forage,  and  military 
stores,  Hopkins  arrived  at  the  Prophet's  town  on  the  19th,  with- 
out interruption.  Early  in  the  morning  of  that  dav,  300  men 
were  detached  to  surprise  the  Winebago  town,  on  Ponce  Passu 
creek,  a  short  distance  below  the  Prophet's.  Having  sur- 


40  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  iv. 

rounded  it  about  the  break  of  day,  they  were  surprised  to  find  it 
evacuated.  The  party,  accordingly,  after  destroying  it,  rejoined 
thtt  main  body  at  the  Prophet's  to\vn. 

For  three  days  Hopkins'  detachment  was  employed  in  achiei 
ing  the  complete  destruction  of  the  Prophet's  town,  and  tl 
large  Kickapoo  village  adjoining,  the  former  consisting  of  4 
and  the  latter  of  160  cabins  and  huts.  They  likewise  destroyed 
all  their  cultivated  fields,  fences,  &c.  and  constructed  works  fc 
the  defence  of  the  boats  and  of  the  encampment. 

On  th;  21st  a  reconnoitering  party  were  attacked  by  a  be 
of  Indians,  and  one  of  their  number  killed.  The  following  da) 
60  horsemen  were  despatched  to  bury  their  comrade,  anc  gain 
a  better  knowledge  of  the  ground,  but  they  unfortunately  fell 
into  an  ambuscade,  in  which  18  of  the  party  were  killed,  wound- 
ed, or  missing.  This  party,  on  their  return,  brought  informa- 
tioajpf  a  large  assemblage  of  the  enemy,  who,  encouraged  by 
the  strength  of  their  camp,  appeared  to  be  waiting  an  attack — 
Every  preparation  was  accordingly  made  to  march  early  next 
morning,  to  engage  the  enemy.  A  violent  fall  of  snow,  howev- 
er, preventing  the  movement  on  the  23d ;  and  the  camp  was  found 
abandoned  on  the  following  day.  The  position  which  the  Indi- 
ans had  thus  abandoned  is  spoken  of  as  having  been  remarkably 
strong.  The  Ponce  Passu,  a  deep  rapid  creek,  was  in  their  rear, 
running  in  a  semicircle  ;  in  front  was  a  "bluff,  100  feet  high,  al- 
most perpendicular,  and  only  to  be  penetrated  by  three  steep 
ravines. 

On  the  return  of  the  troops  to  camp,  the  river  was  found  so 
full  of  ice,  as  to  alarm  them  for  the  return  ot  the  boats.  Hop- 
kins had  intended  to  have  spent  one  week  more  in  endeavouring 
to  find  the  Indian  camps  ;  but  the  shoeless,  shirtless  state  of 
the  troops,  now  clad  in  the  remnants  of  their  summer  dress  ;  a 
river  full  of  ice  ;  the  hills  covered  with  snow  ;  and,  above  all, 
the  uncertainty  of  finding  an  enemy  ;  all  these  circumstances 
determined  him  to  return.  They  accordingly  set  out  on  the 
25th,  and  in  a  few  days  arrived  at  Fort  Harrison,  having 
completed  a  march  of  upwards  of  1OO  miles  into  the  Indian 
country,  which  is  totally  devoid  of  roads,  and  destroyed  three 
of  their  principal  touns,  in  the  space  of  less  than  twenty  days. 

The  last  Indian  expedition  of  which  mention  is  made,  in  this 
quarter,  is  one  which  was  commanded  by  colonel  Campbell,  con- 
sisting of  600  men,  which  marched  from  Greenville  (Ohio) 
against  the  towns  on  the  Mississinewa,  a  branch  of  the  Wabash. 
§  12.  On  the  17th  of  December,  after  marching  all  night, 
Campbell  arrived  at  one  of  the  towns  about  day-break,  which  he 
instantly  attacked,  and  the  Indians  were  driven  across  the  Mis- 
sissinewa river,  with  the  loss  of  7  killed  and  37  prisoners.  Only 


^12.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  41 

one  American,  was  killed  and  one  wounded  in  this  skirmish. — 
After  securing  the  prisoners,  a  part  of  the  detachment  was  de- 
spatched down  the  river,  who  returned  the  same  day,  having 
burned  three  villages  without  resistance.  They  then  encamped 
on  the  ground  where  the  first  village  stood. 

The  following  morning,  a  little  before  day-light,  the  camp  u  as 
attacked  by  a  body  oflndiam,  supposed  to  be  about  300.  They 
commenced  their  attack  on  the  right,  with  a  horrid  yell.  After 
a  desperate  conflict  of  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  a  charge 
was  made  by  the  cavalry,  which  forced  the  Indians  to  retreat, 
leaving  40  killed  on  the  field.  In  this  affair  the  Americans  had 
eight  killed,  and  twenty-five  or  thirty  wounded. 

Another  attack  was  anticipated,  as  information  was  received 
that  Tecumseh,  with  four  or  five  hundred  warriors,  was  only  fit- 
teen  miles  from  the  scene  of  action  ;  but  reinforcements  shortly 
after  arriving  from  Greenville,  they  effected  their  retreat  without 
molestation. 

§  13.  A  small  body  of  Georgia  volunteers  had  been  collected 
early  in  August,  for  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  on  our 
southern  border,  where  considerable  depredations  had  been  com- 
mitted. Several  unforeseen  circumstances,  however,  prevented 
its  being  carried  into  effect,  until  the  24th  of  September,  when 
the  detachment,  consisting  of  only  117  men,  with  twelve  horses, 
marched  from  St.  Johns,  under  the  command  of  colonel  New- 
nan,  against  the  Lotchaway  towns,  in  E.Tst  Florida.  This 
small  force  carried  with  them  only  four  days'  provisions. 

The  detachment  left  St.  John's  in  the  evening,  marching  in 
Indian  file,  with  a  small  party  in  front  and  in  rear,  the  open n  ss 
of  the  country  rendering  it  unnecessary7  to  employ  men  on  the 
right  and  left.  The  encampment  at  nights,  there  being  three 
companies,  was  in  the  form  of  a  triangle,  with  the  baggage  in  the 
centre  ;  the  men  lying  with  their  clothes  on,  their  feet  pointing 
outwards,  and  their  firelocks  in  their  arms.  In  case  of  an  at- 
tack, the  officers  were  instructed  to  bring  up  their  companies 
upon  the  right  and  left  of  ths  company  fronting  the  enemy,  and 
to  follow  .he  Indian  mode  of  fighting  until  ordered  to  charge. 

In  case  of  meeting  the  enemy  on  the  march,  the  first  compa- 
ny, which  consisted  of  riflemen,  was  instructed  to  file  off  to  the 
right,  the  centre  company  to  advance  and  form  f>  the  front  in 
single  rank,  and  the  company  in  the  rear  to  file  off  to  the  left : 
the  whole  then  to  advance  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  and  endea- 
vour to  encircle  the  enemy. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  dav,  when  within  a  few  miles 
of  the  Indian  towns,  the  partv  in  advance  discovered  a  body  ot  * 
Indians  marching  along  the  path  meeting  them.     The  compa- 

VOL.    I.   PART  II.  F 


42  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP. 

nies  were  immediately  ordered  to  advance  according  to  the  pre- 
vious instructions,  which  appeared  exactly  suited  to  the  situa- 
tion in  which  the  enemy  was  found,  and  Newnan  placed  him- 
self at  the  head  of  trie  centre  company.  The  Indians  were  now 
seen  falling  back  and  making  pre  arations  for  battle,  by  unsling- 
ing  their  packs,  trimming  their  rifles,  and  forming  ;  and  the 
Americans  continued  to  advance,  taking  advantage  of 'the  trees 
in  their  progress,  until  within  musket-shot  of  the  enemy,  wher 
many  of  the  Indians  began  to  fire.  The  charge  being  now  or- 
dered, the  enemy  were  forced  precipitately  to  retire,  and  take 
refuge  in  a  swamp.  Unfortunately  the  riflemen,  in  filing  to  ihe 
right,  inadvertently  took  too  great  a  circuit,  by  which  means  a 
small  swamp  was  interposed  between  them  and  the  Indians, 
which  rendered  the  victory  less  decisive  than  it  would  have  been 
had  the  whole  charged  together  before  the  Indians  dispersed. 
The  action,  including  the  skirmishing  on  the  flanks,  lasted  two 
hours  and  a  half,  the  Indians  having  frequently  attempted  to 
outflank  and  get  in  the  rear  of  the  detachment,  but  were  always 
repulsed,  by  the  companies  extending  to  the  right  and  left.  The 
detachment  had  one  killed  and  nine  wounded  in  this  affair. 
The  loss  of  the  Indians  was  more  considerable.  Among  the 
killed  was  their  king  Payne. 

The  Americans  remained  on  the  ground  to  watch  the  mo- 
lions  of  the  Indians*,  who  were  now  seen  near  the  swamp,  paint- 
ing themselves,  and  in  consultation,  which  indicated  an  inten- 
tion of  renewing  the  combat.  Accordingly,  half  an  hour  before 
sun-set,  having  obtained  a  considerable  reinforcement  of  negroes 
and  Indians  from  their  towns,  they  commenced  the  most  horrid 
yells,  imitating  the  cries  and  noise  of  almost  every  animal  of  the 
forest,  their  chiefs  advancing  in  front  in  a  stooping  serpentine 
manner,  and  making  the  most  wild  and  frantic  gestures,  until 
they  approached  within  two  hundred  yards,  when  they  commen- 
ced firing.  The  soldiers  remained  perfectly  still  and  steady  be- 
hind logs  and  trees,  until  the  enemy  had  approached  somewhat 
nearer,  when  a  brisk  and  well  directed  fire  soon  drove  them 
back  to  their  original  ground.  The  action .  lasted  until  eight 
o'clock,  when  the  enemy  were  completely  repulsed.  Two  men 
were  killed  and  one  wounded  j  the  enemy  carried  off  several  of 
their  men  before  it  was  dark — after  which  all  firing  was  at  the 
spot  from  whence  the  flash  arose.  After  thus  fighting  and  fast- 
ing all  day,  the  detachment  had  to  work  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  night,  and  by  day-light  had  completed  a  tolerable  breast- 
work of  logs  and  earth,  with  port  holes. 

As  soon  as  it  was  dark,  one  of  the  officers  was  despatched  to 
St.  John's  for  a  reinforcement,  and  six  more  men  took  the  liber- 


$  13.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  43 

ty  to  accompany  him,  taking  with  them  some  of  the  best  hor- 
ses. 

For  two  days  succeeding  the  battle,  nothing  was  seen  nor  heard 
of  the  enemy  ;  but  on  the  evening  of  the  third  day  they  commen- 
ced firing  at  their  works  at  long  distance,  and  renewed  it  every 
day  for  five  or  six  days,  but  without  killing  or  wounding  any  of 
the  men. 

Seven  or  eight  days  having  elapsed  since  the  express  had 
left  them,  hunger  was  staring  them  in  the  face,  and  they  were 
now  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  eating  one  of  the  horses  ;  they 
had  no  surgeon  to  dress  the  wounded,  and  apprehensions  were 
entertained  that  the  enemy  would  receive  reinforcements  from 
Augustine,  or  the  Makasukie  Indians.  Expecting  relief,  how- 
ever, every  hour,  Newnan  was  unwilling  to  leave  the  breast- 
work while  a  horse  was  left  to  eat;  but  one  of  the  captains  de- 
clared that  he  was  determined  to  set  off  with  his  company  ;  and 
many  of  the  men,  giving  up  all  hopes  of  relief,  talked  of  desert- 
ing in  the  night  rather  than  perish  or  fall  a  sacrifice  to  the  mer- 
ciless negroes  and  Indians,  whom  they  were  taught  to  believe 
would  surround  them  in  great  numbers  in  a  few  days. 

In  this  trying  situation,  the  few  remaining  horses  being  shot 
down,  and  the  number  of  sick  daily  increasing,  Newnan,  reluc- 
tantly assented  to  leave  the  works,  and  directed  the  litters  to  be 
prepared  to  carry  the  wounded.  About  nine  in  the  evening 
they  commenced  their  distressing  march,  carrying  five  wound- 
ed men  in  litters,  and  supporting  two  or  three  more  ;  and  had 
not  proceeded  more  than  eight  miles,  when  the  men  became 
perfectly  exhausted  from  hunger  and  fatigue,  and  were  unable 
to  carry  the  wounded  any  farther. 

This  hasty  retreat  was  peculiarly  unfortunate  ;  for  they  had 
not  left  the  breast- work  more  than  two  hours  when  twenty- five 
horsemen,  with  provisions,  arrived  to  their  relief,  on  a  different 
road  from  the  one  they  had  taken,  but,  finding  the  place  desert- 
ed,-they  returned  to  St.  John's,  two  men  that  had  been  despatch- 
ed on  the  path  the  horsemen  came,  by  some  means  or  other 
missing  them.  They  again  constructed  a  plan  of  defence,  and 
a  sergeant-major  with  one  private  was  despatched  to  Picolata, 
to  learn  what  had  occasioned  the  delay  of  the  supplies. 

Here  once  more  the  spirit  of  insubordination  began  to  dfsplay 
itself,  and  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Newnan  was  com- 
pelled again  to  order  the  march.  They  had  scarcely  marched 
five  miles,  however,  before  the  front  of  the  detachment  discover- 
ed the  heads  of  several  Indians  on  both  sides  of  the  path,  from 
among  some  pine  trees  that  had  been  laid  prostrate  by  a  hurri- 
cane ;  at  the  same  instant,  the  enemy  fired  upon  the  advanced 


44  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP. 

party,  and  shot  down  lour  of  them,  one  of  whom  died  on  the 
spot,  and  two  survived  but  a  few  days.  The  moment  the  tiring 
was  heard,  the  detachment  was  ordered  to  charge,  and  the  In- 
dians were  completely  defeated  in  15  minutes,  many  dropping 
their  guns,  and  all  running  off  without  attempting  to  rally. 
Four  of  them  were  left  dead  on  the  field.  The  detachment  lay 
on  the  battle  ground  all  night,  and  next  day  marched  five  miles, 
when  they  again  threw  up  breast-works  between  two  ponds,  liv- 
ing upon  gophers,  alligators,  and  palmetto  stocks,  until  the  arri- 
val of  the  provisions  and  horses,  when  they  were  enabled  to  pro- 
ceed to  St.  John's.  The  number  of  Indians  in  the  first  engage- 
ment was  from  75  to  100.  In  the  second  engagement  their 
number  (including  negroes,  who  are  their  best  soldiers)  was 
double  that  of  the  Americans ;  and  in  the  third  engagement  there 
appeared  to  be  50,  which  was  nearly  equal  to  their  force,  after 
deducting  the  sick  and  wounded.  The  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  among  the  Indians  must  have  been  at  least  fifty. 

Another  expedition  of  volunteers  was  sent  against  those  In- 
dians from  the  state  of  Tennessee  in  the  month  of  February, 
1813,  by  whom  they  were  defeated  in  three  engagements,  and 
38  killed,  a  number  wounded,  and  seven  taken  prisoners.  The 
detachment  then  burnt  their  settlements,  to  the  number  of  386 
houses,  destroyed  several  thousand  bushels  of  corn,  and  took 
400  horses,  and  about  the  same  number  of  cattle.  The  Indians 
entirely  disappeared  before  the  detachment  left  ;he  settlement. 
In  the  three  engagements  the  Americans  lost  only  one  killed 
and  seven  wounded. 

We  have  never  seen  the  real  value  of  the  militia,  and  at  the 
same  time  their  total  inadequacy  in  their  present  state,  more  strik- 
ingly exemplified  than  in  the  official  narratives  of  those  Indian 
expcditi  ;ns.  The  materiel,  the  stamina  of  the  militia,  cannot  be 
surpassed  ;  but  as  to  all  other  military  requisites  they  are  total- 
ly worthless.  When  we  see  them  encountering  fatigue,  cold, 
and  hungiT,  without  a  murmur,  and  displaying  in  battle  the 
most  undaunted  bravery  and  resolution,  we  cannot  but  lament 
that  all  th  >se  valuable  qualities  should  be  rendered  of  none  effect 
by  the  total  want  of  subordination  and  discipline,  without  which 
ze:il,  numbers,  and  courage  avail  nothing. 

It  rests  with  the  national  legislature  to  apply  the  remedy  to 
this  evil.  The  constitution  has  clothed  them  with  the  power, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  they  will  no  longer  refuse  to  make  use  of 
it.  The  system  ought  either  to  be  abolished  altogether,  as  a 
most  extravagant  waste  of  time  or  money,  or  it  ought  to  be 
m  )de  (and  it  is  surely  capable  of  being  made  so)  a  powerful 
an-1  certu'n  mt;\ns  of  national  defence,  by  a  proper  system  of 
national  instruction. 


^  1.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  45 


CHAPTER  IV. 


§  1.  The  Bonne  Citoyenne  challenged.  §  2.  Capture  and  destruction  of 
the  Java.  §  3.  Capture  and  destruction  of  the  Peacock.  §  4.  Cruize 
of  the  Chesapeake.  §  5.  Capiured  by  the  Shannon.  §  6.  Capture  of 
the  Argus.  §  7.  Capture  of  the  Boxer.  §  8.  Cruize  of  the  Presi- 
dent and  Congress.  §  9.  Cruize  of  the  Essex.  §  10.  Loss  of  national 
vessels.  ^  11.  American  privateers.  §  12.  The  Rolla.  §  13.  The 
Comet.  §  14.  The  General  Armstrong.  §  15.  The  Decatur. 

§  1.  ON  the  arrival  of  the  Constitution  frigate  at  Boston, 
after  the  capture  of  the  Guerriere,  captain  Hull  received  per- 
mission to  remain  on  shore  for  the  settlement  of  his  affairs,  and 
commodore  Bainbridge  was  appointed  to  command  in  his  room. 
After  undergoing  the  necessary  repairs,  she  sailed  on  a  cruize 
to  the  East  Indies,  towards  the  end  of  October,  accompanied 
by  the  Hornet  sloop  of  war,  commanded  by  captain  Lawrence; 
but  in  running  down  the  coast  of  the  Brazils,  they  found  the 
Bonne  Citoyenne,  a  British  ship  of  war,  loaded  with  specie, 
lying  in  the  port  of  St.  Salvador.  The  Bonne  Citoyenne  was  a 
larger  vessel,  and  had  a  greater  force  both  in  guns  and  men  than 
the  Hornet ;  but  so  eager  was  captain  Lawrence  to  engage  her, 
that  he  sent,  through  the  American  consul  at  St.  Salvador,  a 
challenge  to  her  commander,  captain  Greene,  pledging  his  hon- 
our that  neither  the  Constitution,  nor  any  other  Amtrican  ves- 
sel, should  interfere.'  This  pledge  was  confirmed  by  commo- 
dore Bainbridge,  who,  to  show  his  sincerity,  left  the  Hornet 
beiore  St.  Salvador,  and  sailed  on  another  cruize.  The  com- 
mander of  the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  however,  did  not  see  fit  to 
accept  of  the  challenge,  but  suffered  himself  to  be  blockaded  by 
the  Hornet. 

§  2.  On  the  29th  of  December,  a  few  days  after  leaving  St. 
Salvador,  about  ten  leagues  from  the  coast  of  Brazil,  at  nine  in 
the  morning,  Bainbridge  discovered  two  strange  sail,  one  of 
which  stood  in  for  the  land,  the  other  off  shore  towards  the 
Constitution.  At  half  past  eleven,  the  private  signal  for  the 
duy  being  made,  and  not  answered,  it  was  concluded  she  was  an 
enemy.  The  American  ensign  was  hoisted  at  twelve,  and 
shortly  after  the  enemy  hoisted  her  colours.  About  half  past 
one,  ihe  vessel  being  perceived  to  be  a  British  frigate,  Bain- 
bridge tacked  ship,  and  stood  towards  her,  when  she  immedi- 
ately bore  down  with  the  intention  of  raking,  which  was  avoid- 


46  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP. 

ed  by  wearing.  At  two,  the  enemy  being  then  within  a  half  a 
mile  of  the  Constitution,  and  to  windward,  and  having  haultd 
down  her  colours  except  the  union,  Bainbridge  ordered  a  gun 
to  be  fired  ahead  of  her,  to  make  her  show  her  colours,  which 
was  followed  by  a  broadside  ;  on  which  the  enemy  hoisted  her 
eolours,  and  immediately  returned  the  fire. 

A  general  action  now  commenced  with  round  and  grape-shot, 
the  British  frigate  keeping  at  a  much  greater  distance  than  the 
commodore  wished,  but  he  could  not  bring  her  to  closer  action 
without  exposing  his  ship  to  being  raked.  A  number  of  ma- 
noeuvres were  now  made  by  both  vessels  to  obtain  a  raking  po- 
sition, during  which  the  wheel  of  the  Constitution  was  shot 
entirely  away.  Bainbridge  now  determined  to  close  with  the 
enemy,  notwithstanding  the  danger  of  being  raked,  and  accord- 
ingly set  the  fore  and  mainsail,  and  luffed  up  close  to  her. 

About  4  o'clock,  the  fire  of  the  enemy  being  completely  silen- 
ced, and  her  colours  in  the  main  rigging  being  down,  it  was 
supposed  she  had  struck,  and  the  Constitution  shot  ahead  to  re- 
pair the  rigging,  leaving  the  enemy  a  complete  wreck.  It  was 
shortly  after,  however,  discovered  that  the  colours  were  still 
fl ving  ;  and  accordingly,  after  repairing  some  of  the  damage,  the 
Constitution  took  a  position  across  the  enemy's  bows,  in  order 
to  rake  her,  but  this  she  prudently  avoided  by  striking  her 
flag. 

Bainbridge  now  sent  his  first  lieutenant  on  board  the  prize, 
which  proved  to  be  the  Java,  a  frigate  of  the  same  rate  as  the 
Guerriere  and  Macedonian,  but  with  a  much  larger  complement 
of  men,  having  had  upwards  of  40O  on  board  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  action,  10O  of  them  being  supernumeraries  intend- 
ed for  the  British  ships  of  war  in  the  East  Indies.  There  was* 
also  on  board  lieutenant-general  Hislop,  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  Bombay,  major  Walker  and  captain  Wood  of  his 
staff,  and  captain  Marshall,  master  and  commander  in  the  Bri- 
tish navy,  going  to  the  East  Indies  to  take  command  of  a  sloop 
of  war  there.  The  commander  was  captain  Lambert,  a  very 
distinguished  officer,  who  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  action. 

The  action  lasted  an  hour  and  fifty-five  minutes,  in  which 
time  the  Java  was  completely  dismasted,  not  having  a  spar  of 
any  kind  standing.  She  had  been  fitted  out  in  the  most  com- 
plete manner,  and  had  copper  on  board  for  a  74  and  two  brigs 
building  at  Bombay ;  but  the  great  distance  from  our  coast,  and 
the  disabled  state  of  the  vessel,  forbidding  every  idea  of  attempt- 
ing to  take  her  to  the  United  States,  after  removing  the  priso- 
ners and  their  baggage,  she  was  set  on  fire,  and  soon  after  blew 
up. 


§  3.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  47 

The  loss  on  board  the  Constitution  was  9  killed  and  25 
wounded.  The  loss  on  board  the  Java  could  not  be  exactly 
ascertained,  as  the  officers  were  extremely  cautious  in  speaking 
of  the  number  of  her  crew.  Commodore  Bainbridge  states  it 
at  60  killed  and  101  wounded  certainly  ;  by  a  letter  written  on 
board  the  Constitution  by  one  of  the  officers  of  the  Java,  and  ac- 
cidentally found,  the  number  was  stated  to  be  60  killed  and  1 70 
wounded. 

After  blowing  up  the  Java,  Bainbridge  returned  to  St.  Salva- 
dor, where  he  landed  all  the  prisoners  on  their  parole,  to  the 
number  of  361,  exclusive  of  nine  Portuguese  seamen,  who  were 
liberated  and  given  up  to  the  governor  of  St.  Salvador,  and 
three  passengers,  private  characters,  whom  the  commodore  did 
not  consider  prisoners  of  war. 

On  account  of  the  destruction  of  the  boats  of  both  vessels  in 
the  action,  nothing  was  taken  from  on  board  the  Java  except  the 
prisoners  and  their  baggage,  the  whole  of  which  was  given  up 
to  them.  Among  other  valuable  articles  given  up  was  a  chest 
of  plate,  which  had  been  presented  to  general  Hislop  by  the  colo- 
ny of  Demarara.  Commodore  Bainbridge  received  the  public 
acknowledgments  of  the  governor  of  St.  Salvador,  as  well  as 
of  his  prisoners,  for  the  kind  treatment  and  beneficence  which 
he  displayed  on  this  occasion. 

The  Constitution  again  left  St.  Salvador  on  the  6th  of  Janua- 
ry, and  arrived  at  Boston  about  the  middle  of  February. 

§  3.  Meanwhile  the  Hornet  blockaded  the  Bonne  Citoyenne, 
until  the  24thof  January,  when  the  Montague,  a  74  gun  ship, 
hove  in  sight  and  chased  her  into  the  harbour  ;  but  night  com- 
ing on,  she  wore  and  stood  out  to  the  southward.  Knowing  that 
she  had  left  Rio  Janeiro  for  the  express  purpose  of  relieving  the 
Bonne  Citoyenne  and  the  packet  which  Lawrence  had  also  block- 
aded for  14  days,  and  obliged  her  to  send  her  mail  to  Rio,  in  a  Por- 
tuguese smack,  he  judged  it  most  prudent  to  shift  his  cruising 
ground,  and  accordingly  shaped  his  course  towards  Pernambuco. 
On  the  4th  of  February  he  captured  the  English  brig  Resolu- 
tion, of  10  guns,  laden  with  provisions  arid  about  §23,000  in 
specie ;  but  as  she  sailed  dull,  and  he  could  not  spare  hands  to  man 
her,  he  took  but  the  money  and  crew,  and  set  her  on  fire.  He 
then  ran  down  the  coast  for  Moranham,  and  cruised  there  a  short 
time,  and  thence  ran  off  Surinam.  After  cruising  off  that 
coast  from  the  1 5th  to  the  22d  of  February,  without  meeting  a 
vessel,  he  stood  tor  Demarara.  Next  morning  he  discovered  a 
brig  to  leeward,  which  he  chased  so  near  the  shore  that  he  was 
obliged  to  haul  off  for  want  of  a  pilot.  Previous  to  giving  up  the 
chase,  however,  he  discovered  a  vessel  at  anchor  without  the  bar 


48  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [ci 

of  Demarara  river,  with  English  colours  flying,  apparently  a  brij 
of  war.  In  beating  around  Carobana  bank,  in  order  to  get  at 
at  half  past  three  in  the  afternoon,  he  discovered  another  sail  on 
his  weather  quarter,  edging  down  for  him.  At  ~0  minutes  past  4 
she  hoisted  English  colours,  when  she  was  discovered  to  be  a 
large  man  of  war  brig.  The  Hornet  was  immediately  cleared  for 
action,  and  kept  close  to  the  wind,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  get  the 
weather  gauge.  At  5  minutes  past  1O,  finding  he  could  weather 
the  enemy,  Lawrence  hoisted  American  colours,  tacked,  and 
shortly  after  exchanged  broadsides  with  the  British  ship, 
within  half  pistol  shot.  Observing  the  enemy  in  the  act  of 
wearing,  Lawrence  now  bore  up,  received  his  starboard  broad- 
side, ran  him  close  on  board  on  the  starboard  quarter,  and  kept 
such  a  heavy  and  well  directed  fire,  that  in  less  than  15  minutes 
the  British  struck  their  colours,  and  hoisted  an  ensign,  union 
down,  from  their  fore  rigging,  as  a  signal  of  distress. 

Lieutenant  Shubrick*  was  immediately  sent  on  board  the 
prize,  which  proved  to  be  the  British  brig  Peacock,  commanded 
by  captain  William  Peake,  who  fell  in  the  latter  part  of  the  ac- 
tion. Shubrick,  on  getting  on  board,  found  that  a  number  of 
her  crew  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  that  she  was  sinking 
fast,  being  literally  cut  to  pieces,  and  having  six  feet  water  in 
her  nold.  Both  vessels  were  immediately  brought  to  anchor, 
and  the  Hornet's  boats  despatched  to  bring  off  the  wounded  ; 
but  although  her  guns  were  thrown  overboard,  the  shot  holes 
that  could  be  got  at  plugged,  and  every  exertion  made  by  pump- 
ing and  bailing  to  keep  her  afloat  until  the  prisoners  could  be  re- 
moved, all  proved  ineffectual,  and  she  sunk  in  five  and  a  half 
fathoms  water,  carrying  down  13  of  her  crew,  and  three  sailors 
belonging  to  the  Hornet,  who  were  bravely  risking  their  lives 
for  the  safety  of  the  vanquished  foe.  A  lieutenant  and  other 
officers  and  men  of  the  Hornet  employed  in  removing  the  pri- 
soners, with  difficulty  saved  themselves,  by  jumping  into  a  boat 
that  was  lying  on  her  booms  as  she  went  down.  Four  of  the 
13  of  the  crew  of  the  Peacock,  mentioned  as  being  in  her  when 
she  went  down,  were  so  fortunate  as  to  gain  the  fore-top,  and 
were  afterwards  taken  off  by  the  boat«.  Previous  to  her  going 
down,  four  of  her  men  took  to  her  stern  boat,  that  had  been 
much  damaged  during  the  action,  and  it  is  hoped  reached  the 
shore  in  safety  ;  but,  fmm  the  heavy  sea  running  at  the  time, 
the  shattered  state  of  the  boat,  and  the  difficulty  of  landing  on 
the  coast,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  they  were  lost. 

*  Lieutenant  Shubrick  has  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  in  the  actions  with  the 
Guernere,  Java,  and  Peacock. 


$  3.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  49 

The  exact  number  of  killed  on  board  the  Peacock  could  not 
be  ascertained  from  her  officers.  Captain  Peake  and  four  men 
were  found  dead  on  board  by  the  Americans  ;  the  master,  one 
midshipman,  carpenter,  captain's  clerk,  and  29  seamen  were 
wounded,  most  of  them  severely,  three  of  whom  died  of  their 
wounds  after  being  removed.  On  board  the  Hornet  there  was 
only  one  killed  and  two  wounded  by  the  enemy,  but  two  men 
were  severely  burnt  by  the  explosion  of  a  cartridge  during  the 
action,  one  of  whom  survived  but  a  few  days.  Her  rigging  and 
sails  were  much  cut,  a  shot  passed  through  the  fore  mast,  and 
the  bowsprit  was  slightly  injured  ;  her  hull  received  little  or  no 
damage. 

The  Peacock  was  deservedly  styled  one  of  the  finest  vessels 
of  her  class  in  the  British  navy.  Her  tonnage  was  supposed  to 
be  about  equal  to  that  of  the  Hornet.  Her  beam  was  greater 
by  five  inches  ;  but  her  extreme  length  not  so  great  by  four 
feet.  She  mounted  sixteen  24  pound  carronades,  two  long 
nines,  one  twelve  pound  carronade  on  her  top-gallant  forecastle 
as  a  shifting  gun,  and  one  four  or  six-pounder,  and  two  swi- 
vels mounted  aft.  Her  crew  consisted  consisted  of  134  men, 
four  of  whom  were  absent  in  a  prize. 

During  the  engagement,  the  L'Espiegle,  the  brig  that  Law- 
rence had  been  endeavouring  to  reach  before  the  Peacock  ap- 
peared, which  mounted  16  thirty-two  pound  carronades  and 
two  long  nines,  lay  about  six  miles  distant,  and  could  plainly  see 
the  whole  of  the  action.  Apprehensions  were  entertained,  that 
she  would  beat  out  to  the  assistance  of  her  consort,  and  there- 
fore such  exertions  were  made  in  repairing  damages,  that  by 
nine  o'clock  the  boats  were  stowed  away,  a  new  set  of  sails  bent, 
and  the  ship  completely  ready  for  action.  She,  however,  de- 
clined coming  out,  and  at  two  in  the  morning  the  Hornet  got 
under  way. 

The  morning  after  the  action,  Lawrence  found  that  he  had 
277  souls  on  board,  and  therefore,  as  his  own  crew  had  been  on 
two-thirds  allowance  of  provisions  for  some  time,  and  his  sup- 
ply of  water  was  but  scant,  he  determined  to  make  the  best  of 
his  way  to  the  United  States.  He  arrived  at  Holmes'  Hole  on 
the  19th  of  March,  and  a  few  days  after  proceeded  clown  the 
•ound  to  New  York. 

The  kindness  and  hospitality  shown  by  captain  Lawrence  and 
his  officers  to  his  unfortunate  prisoners,  was  such  as  to  penetrate 
them  with  the  most  lively  gratitude,  which  the  officers  expressed 
shordy  after  their  arrival  by  a  public  letter  of  thanks.  "  So 
much,"  say  they,  "  was  done  to  alleviate  the  distressing  and  un- 
comfortable situation  in  which  we  were  placed  when  received  on 

TOL.  i.  PART  n.  (« 


50  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.  [CHAP.  iv. 

board  the  sloop  you  command,  that  we  cannot  better  express 
our  feelings  than  by  saying,  *  We  ceased  to  consider  ourselves 
prisoners  ;'  and  every  thing  that  friendship  could  dictate  was 
adopted  by  you  and  the  officers  of  the  Hornet,  to  remedy  the 
inconvenience  we  would  otherwise  have  experienced  from  the 
unavoidable  loss  of  the  whole  of  our  property  and  clothes  by  the 
sudden  sinking  of  the  Peacock." 

Nor  was  the  crew  of  the  Hornet  a  whit  behind  their  superiors 
in  that  noble  generosity  which  ever  accompanies  true  bravery. 
As  the  sailors  of  the  Peacock  had  lost  every  thing  except  what 
they  had  on  their  backs  when  she  went  down,  our  American 
tars  united  to  relieve  them,  and  made  every  English  sailor  a 
present  of  two  shirts,  a  bluejacket,  and  a  pair  of  trowsers. 
*  §  4.  The  frigate  Chesapeake,  commanded  by  captain  Evans, 
sailed  from  Boston  about  the  middle  of  November  on  a  cruize. 
From  Boston  she  run  down  by  Madeira,  the  Canary,  and  Cape 
de  Verd  Islands ;  thence  to  the  equator,  between  longitude  25° 
and  15°  W.,  where  she  cruized  six  weeks.  She  then  sailed 
along  the  coast  of  South  America,  and  passed  within  fifteen 
leagues  of  Surinam.  Thence  she  passed  through  the  windward 
islands  to  the  coast  of  the  United  States  near  the  capes  of  Vir- 
t  ginia,  and  thence  along  the  coast  of  Boston,  where  she  arrived 
on  the  10th  of  April,  after  a  cruize  of  115  days.  During  this 
cruize  she  took  an  American  brig,  sailing  under  an  English  li- 
cense, and  three  British  vessels,  one  of  which*  she  burnt  after 
taking  out  the  crew  and  cargo.  On  the  first  of  January,  off  the 
Western  islands,  she  discovered  two  large  sail  bearing  down  on 
her,  apparently  ships  of  war,  and  lay  to  until  near  enough  to 
ascertain  that  they  were  a  74  and  a  frigate,  when  she  made  all 
sail  and  escaped.  Off  the  capes  of  Virginia,  about  ten  days 
before  her  arrival,  she  gave  chase  to  a  sloop  of  war,  and  contin- 
ued chasing  for  two  days,  when  itescaped  in  the  night. 

§  5.  The  Chesapeake  continued  in  Boston  harbour  until  the 
first  of  June,  the  day  of  her  unfortunate  rencontre  with  the 
Shannon.  Captain  Lawrence,  of  the  Hornet,  had  a  short  time 
previous  been  appointed  to  command  the  Chesapeake,  and  hard- 
ly had  he  arrived  at  Boston,  when  the  Shannon,  commanded  by 
captain  Broke,  appeared  off  the  harbour  with  the  avowed  pur- 
pose of  seeking  a  combat  with  her. 

"  Stung  with  the  repeated  disasters  of  the  British  frigates, 
this  officer  resolved  to  make  an  effort  to  retrieve  them  ;  and 
when  he  deemed  his  ship  perfectly  prepared  for  that  purpose, 
sent  a  formal  challenge  to  captain  Lawrence. 

"  4  As  the  Chesapeake,'  his  letter  began, '  appears  now  ready 
for  sea,  I  request  you  will  do  me  the  favour  to  meet  the  Shan- 


•$  5.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  51 

non  with  her,  ship  to  ship,  to  try  the  fortune  of  our  respective 
flags.  To  an  officer  of  your  character,  it  requires  some  apology 
for  proceeding  to  further  particulars.  Be  assured,  sir,  that  it  is 
not  from  any  doubt  I  entertain  of  your  wishing  to  close  with 
my  proposal,  but  merely  to  provide  an  answer  to  any  objection 
that  might  be  made,  and  very  reasonably,  upon  the  chance  of 
our  receiving  unfair  support.'  After  observing  that  commodore 
Rodgers  had  not  accepted  several  verbal  challenges  which  he 
had  given,  captain  Broke  then  proceeds  to  state  very  minutely 
the  force  of  the  Shannon,  and  offers  to  send  all  British  ships 
out  of  reach,  so  that  they  might  have  a  fair  combat,  at  any  place 
within  a  certain  range  along  the  coast  of  New  England  which 
he  specified  ;  if  more  agreeable,  he  offers  to  sail  together,  and  to 
warn  the  Chesapeake,  by  means  of  private  signals,  of  the  ap- 
proach of  British  ships  of  war,  till  they  reach  some  solitary 
spot — or  to  sail  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  any  place  out  of  the  reach 
of  British  aid,  so  that  the  flag  should  be  hauled  down  when  it 
was  deemed  fair  to  begin  hostilities.  *  I  entreat  you,  sir,'  he 
concludes,  *  not  to  imagine  that  I  am  urged  by.  mere  personal 
vanity  to  the  wish  of  meeting  the  Chesapeake,  or  that  I  depend 
only  upon  your  personal  ambition  for  your  acceding  to  this  in- 
vitation. We  have  both  nobler  motives.  You  will  feel  it  as  a 
compliment,  if  I  say  that  the  result  of  our  meeting  may  be  the 
most  grateful  service  I  can  render  to  my  country ;  and  I  doubt 
not  that  you,  equally  confident  of  success,  will  feel  convinced 
that  it  is  only  by  repeated  triumphs  in  even  combats,  that  your 
little  navy  can  now  hope  to  console  your  country  for  the  loss  of 
that  trade  it  can  no  longer  protect.' 

•  "  The  style  of  this  letter,  with  the  exception  of  the  puerile 
bravado  about  commodore  Rodgers,  is  frank  and  manly ;  and 
if  the  force  of  the  Shannon  were  correctly  stated,  would  be 
such  a  challenge  as  might  well  be  sent  from  a  brave  seaman  to 
a  gallant  adversary.  We,  however,  are  but  too  well  satisfied, 
that  captain  Broke  studiously  underrated  the  number  of  his 
guns  and  crew ;  or  that,  after  his  challenge,  he  must  have  re- 
ceived additions  to  both.  That  the  Shannon  had  more  guns 
than  the  number  stated  by  her  commander,  we  learn  from  the 
testimony  of  the  surviving  officers  of  the  Chesapeake  ;  who 
also  assert,  that  she  had  three  hundred  and  seventy-six  men  ; 
that  she  had  an  officer  and  sixteen  men  from  the  Belle  Pouie  ; 
and  that  the  hats  of  some  of  her  seamen  were  marked  *•  Tent- 
dos.'  Such  as  it  was,  however,  this  letter,  most  unfortunately, 
never  reached  captain  Lav/rence.  If  he  had  received  it ;  if  he 
had  been  thus  warned  to  prepare  his  ship ;  if  he  had  had  an 
opportunity  of  selecting  his  officers,  and  disciplining  his  crew  j 


52  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP,  iv 

if,  in  short,  he  had  been  able  to  place  the  Chesapeake  on  any- 
thing like  equal  terms  with  the  Shannon,  the  combat  might  have 
been  more  bloody — there  might  have  been  such  an  engagement 
as  has  not  yet  been  seen  between  single  ships  on  the  ocean  ; 
though  we  cannot  suffer  ourselves  to  doubt  the  result  of  it. 
But  he  knew  nothing  of  this  challenge — he  saw  only  the  Shan- 
non riding  before  him  in  defiance  ;  he  remembered  the  spirit 
with  which  he  himself  overawed  a  superior,  and  he  could  not 
brook  for  a  moment,  that  an  enemy,  which  seemed  to  be  his 
equal,  should  insult  his  flag.  Although,  therefore,  the  Chesa- 
peake was  comparatively  an  inferior  ship — although  his  first 
lieutenant  was  sick  on  shore — although  three  of  his  lieutenants 
had  recently  left  her ;  and,  of  the  four  who  remained,  two  were 
only  midshipmen,  acting  as  lieutenants— although  part  of  his 
crew  were  new  hands,  and  all  of  them  had  lost  some  of  their 
discipline  by  staying  in  port — yet,  as  he  would  have  gone  to  sea 
in  that  situation  had  no  enemy  appeared,  he  felt  himself  bound 
not  to  delay  sailing  on  that  account,  and  throwing  himself,  there- 
fore, on  his  courage  and  his  fortune,  he  determined  at  once  to 
attack  the  enemy.  It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  June, 
1813,  that  the  Chesapeake  sailed  out  of  the  harbour  of  Boston, 
to  meet  the  Shannon.  As  soon  as  she  got  under  weigh,  captain 
Lawrence  called  the  crew  together,  and  having  hoisted  the 
white  flag,  with  the  motto  of '  free  trade  and  sailors'  rights,'  made 
a  short  address.  His  speech,  however,  was  received  with  nc 
enthusiasm — on  the  contrary,  signs  of  dissatisfaction  were  evi- 
dent j  particularly  from  a  boatswain's  mate,  a  Portuguese,  who 
seemed  to  be  at  the  head  of  the  malecontents  ;  and  complaints 
were  muttered,  that  they  had  not  yet  received  their  prize-mo- 
ney. Such  expressions,  at  the  eve  of  an  action,  were  but  ill- 
bodings  of  the  result  of  it;  but  captain  Lawrence,  ignorant  as 
he  was  of  the  characters  of  his  sailors,  and  unwilling  at  such  a 
moment  to  damp  their  spirits  by  harshness,  preserved  his  accus- 
tomed calmness,  and  had  prize-checks,  at  once,  given  by  the 
purser  to  those  who  had  not  received  them.  Whilst  this  scene 
was  passing,  the  Shannon,  observing  the  Chesapeake  coming  out, 
bore  away.  The  Chesapeake  followed  her  till  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  when  she  hauled  up  and  fired  a  gun,  on  which  the 
Shannon  hove  to.  They  manoeuvred  for  some  time,  till,  at  about 
a  quarter  before  six,  they  approached  within  pistol  shot  and  ex- 
changed broadsides. 

"  These  broadsides  were  both  bloody ;  but  the  fire  of  the  Shan- 
non was  most  fortunate  in  the  destruction  of  officers.  The 
fourth  lieutenant,  Mr.  Ballard,  was  mortally  wounded — the 
sailing  master  was  killed,  and  captain  Lawrence  received  a  mus- 


$5.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  53 

ket  ball  in  his  leg,  which  caused  great  pain,  and  profuse  bleed- 
ing, but  he  leaned  on  the  companion  way,  and  continued  to 
order  and  to  animate  his  crew.  A  second,  and  a  third  broad- 
side was  exchanged,  with  evident  advantage  on  the  part  of  the 
Chesapeake ;  but,  unfortunately,  among  those  now  wounded  on 
board  of  her  was  the  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Ludlow,  who  was 
carried  below — three  men  were  successively  shot  from  the  helm, 
in  about  twelve  minutes  from  the  commencement  of  the  action ; 
and,  as  the  hands  were  shifting,  a  shot  disabled  her  foresail,  so 
that  she  would  no  longer  answer  her  helm,  and  her  anchor 
caught  in  one  of  the  after  ports  of  the  Shannon,  which  enabled 
the  latter  to  rake  her  upper  deck.  As  soon  as  Lawrence  per- 
ceived that  she  was  falling  to  leeward,  and  that  by  the  Shan- 
non's filling  she  would  fall  on  board,  he  called  his  boarders,  and 
was  giving  orders  about  the  foresail,  when  he  received  a  musket 
ball  in  his  body.  The  bugleman,  who  should  have  called  the 
boarders,  did  not  do  his  duty  ;  and,  at  this  moment,  commodore 
Broke,  whose  ship  had  suffered  so  much  that  he  was  preparing 
to  repel  boarding  ;  perceiving,  from  this  accident,  how  the  deck 
of  the  Chesapeake  was  swept,  jumped  on  board  with  about 
twenty  men.  They  would  have  been  instantly  repelled  ;  but 
the  captain,  the  first  lieutenant,  the  sailing-master,  the  boat- 
swain, the  lieutenant  of  marines,  the  only  acting  lieutenant  on. 
the  spar-deck,  were  all  killed  or  disabled.  At  the  call  of  the 
boarders,  lieutenant  Cox  ran  on  deck,  but  just  in  time  to  receive 
his  falling  commander,  and  bear  him  below.  Lieutenant  Budd, 
the  second  lieutenant,  led  up  the  boarders,  but  only  fifteen  or 
twenty  would  follow  him,  and  with  these  he  defended  the  ship 
till  he  was  wounded  and  disabled.  Lieutenant  Ludlow,  wound- 
ed as  he  was,  hurried  upon  deck,  where  he  soon  received  a 
mortal  cut  from  a  sabre.  The  marines  who  were  engaged 
fought  with  desperate  courage ;  but  they  were  few  in  number ; 
too  many  of  them  having  followed  the  Portuguese  boatswain's 
mate,  who  exclaimed,  it  is  said,  as  he  skulked  below, *  so  much 
for  not  paying  men  their  prize-money.'  Meanwhile  the  Shan- 
non threw  on  board  sixty  additional  men,  vi  ho  soon  succeeded 
in  overpowering  the  seamen  of  the  Chesapeake,  who  had  now 
no  officers  to  lead  or  rally  them,  and  took  possession  of  the 
ship ;  which  was  not,  however,  surrendered  by  any  signal  of 
submission,  but  became  the  enemy's  only  because  they  were 
abb  to  overwhelm  all  who  were  in  a  condition  to  resist. 

"  As  captain  Lawrence  was  carried  below,  he  perceived  the 
melancholy  condition  of  the  Chesapeake,  but  cried  out, '  Don't 
surrender  the  ship.'     He  was  taken  down  in  to  the  ward-room 
and,  as  he  lay  in  excruciating  p:iin,  perceiving  that  the  noise 


54  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP,  iv . 

above  had  ceased,  he  ordered  the  surgeon  to  go  on  deck,  and 
tell  the  officers  to  fight  on  to  the  last,  and  never  strike  the  co- 
lours. *  They  shall  wave,'  said  he,  '  while  1  me.'  But  it  was 
too  late  to  resist  or  to  struggle  longer ;  the  enemy  had  already 
possession  of  the  ship.  As  captain  Lawrence's  wounds  would 
not  allow  of  his  removal,  he  continued  in  the  ward-room,  sur- 
rounded by  his  wounded  officers,  and,  after  lingering  in  great 
pain  for  four  days,  during  which  his  sufferings  were  too  acute 
to  permit  him  to  speak,  or,  perhaps,  to  think  of  the  sad  events 
he  had  just  witnessed,  or  do  more  than  ask  for  what  his 
situation  required,  he  died  on  the  5th  of  June.  His  body  was 
wrapped  in  the  colours  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  laid  on  the  quar- 
ter deck,  until  they  arrived  at  Halifax,  where  he  was  buried 
with  the  highest  military  and  naval  honours  ;  the  British  officers 
forgetting  in  their  admiration  of  his  character,  that  he  had  been 
but  lately  their  enemy.  His  pall  was  supported  by  the  oldest 
captains  in  the  navy  then  at  Halifax,  and  no  demonstration  of 
respectful  attention  was  omitted  to  honour  the  remains  of  a 
brave,  but  unfortunate  stranger. 

"  In  this  sanguinary  engagement  the  Chesapeake  lost  her  com- 
mander and  forty-seven  men  killed,  and  ninety-seven  wounded, 
of  whom  fourteen  afterwards  died.  Among  these  were  lieu- 
tenant Ludlow,  first  lieutenant  of  the  ship,  and  lieutenant  Bal- 
lard,  the  fourth  lieutenant,  both  excellent  officers. 

"  On  the  part  of  the  Shannon  captain  Broke  was  dangerously 
wounded,  though  he  has  since  recovered;  the  first  lieutenant, 
the  purser,  captain's  clerk,  and  twenty-three  seamen  killed,  and 
fifty-seven  persons  wounded,  besides  captain  Broke. 

"The  capture  of  the  Chesapeake  is  to  be  ascribed  wholly  to 
the  extraordinary  loss  of  officers  (a  loss  without  any  precedent, 
as  far  as  we  can  recollect,  in  naval  history) ;  and  to  her  falling 
accidentally  on  board  the  Shannon.  During  the  three  broad- 
sides, while  the  officers  of  the  Chesapeake  were  living,  and  she 
was  kept  clear  of  the  enemy,  the  superiority  was  manifestly 
with  the  Americans.  The  Chesapeake  had  received  scarcely 
any  damage,  while  the  Shannon  had  several  shot  between  wind 
and  water,  and  could  with  difficulty  be  kept  afloat  during  the 
succeeding  night.  "  It  was  only  when  accident  threw  the  Chesa- 
peake on  board  the  Shannon,  when  her  officers  were  unable  to 
lead  on  the  boarders,  that  captain  Broke  himself,  contrary,  we 
believe,  to  the  regulations  of  the  British  navy,  left  his  own  ship, 
and  was  able,  by  superior  numbers,  to  overpower  the  distracted 
crew  of  the  Chesapeake. 

"  We  have  heard  many  accounts,  which  we  are  very  reluc- 
tantly compelled  to  believe,  of  improper  conduct  by  the  British 


$  5.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  55 

after  the  capture,  and  of  brutal  violence  offered  to  the  crew  of 
the  Chesapeake.  As,  however,  some  allowances  are  due  to  the 
exasperated  passions  of  the  moment,  something  too  to  the  con- 
fusion of  a  bloody  and  doubtful  struggle,  we  are  unwilling  to 
prolong  the  remembrance  of  imputations  which  may  be  dis- 
proved, and  perhaps  have  been  exaggerated. 

"  But  we  should  wrong  the  memory  of  captain  Lawrence, 
we  should  be  unjust  to  the  officers  of  the  American  navy,  with 
whose  glory  all  the  aspiring  ambition  of  the  country  is  so  closely 
blended,  if  we  omitted  any  opportunity  of  giving  the  last  and 
fairest  lustre  to  their  fame,  by  contrasting  their  conduct  with 
that  of  the  enemy,  or  if  we  forbore,  from  any  misplaced  delicacy 
towards  our  adversaries,  to  report  circumstances  connected 
with  the  fate  of  the  Chesapeake,  which  throw  a  broad  and  daz- 
zling light  on  the  generous  magnanimity  of  our  countrymen." 

Our  readers  cannot  have  failed  to  observe  the  liberality 
which  was  extended  to  the  officers  and  crews  of  the  Guerriere, 
Macedonian,  and  Java,  and  the  still  more  striking  instance  of 
the  Peacock.  "  When  the  Chesapeake  was  taken  by  the  Shan- 
non, the  key  of  captain  Lawrence's  store-room  was  demanded 
of  the  purser.  It  was  given ;  but  the  purser  observed  at  the 
same  time,  that  in  the  captures  of  the  Guerriere,  Macedonian, 
and  Java,  the  most  scrupulous  regard  was  paid  to  the  private 
property  of  the  British  officers;  that  captain  Lawrence  had 
laid  in  stores  for  a  long  cruize ;  and  that  the  value  of  them 
would  be  a  great  object  to  his  widoAV  and  family,  for  whose 
use  he  was  desirous,  if  possible,  of  preserving  them.  This 
request  was  not  merely  declined ;  it  was  haughtily  and  super- 
ciliously refused. 

"  However  we  may  mourn  the  sufferings  of  that  day,  the  loss 
of  the  Chesapeake  has  not,  in  our  estimation,  varied  the  relative 
standing  of  the  marine  of  the  two  countries  ;  nor  does  it  abate, 
in  the  slightest  degree,  any  of  the  loftiness  of  our  naval  preten- 
sions. The  contest  was  wholly  unequal  in  ships,  in  guns,  in 
crews,  in  officers,  in  every  thing. 

"  The  Shannon  was  a  better  ship ;  she  had  not  upon  her  the 
curse  of  that  ill-omined  name,  the  Chesapeake.  The  Shannon 
was  a  stronger  ship ;  she  mounted  twenty-eight  eighteen  poun- 
ders on  the  main  deck,  twenty-two  thirty-two  pound  carronades, 
and  two  long  brass  nines  or  twelves,  on  the  spar-deck,  and  a 
large  carronade  amidships,  in  all  Jifty'txvo  guns,  besides  this 
last  heavy  carronade ;  while  the  Chesapeake  mounted  twenty- 
eight  eighteen  pounders  on  the  main  deck,  and  twenty  thirty- 
two  pound  carronades,  and  one  eighteen  pounder,  chase  gun, 
on  the  spar-deck,. in  all  forty-nine  guns. 


56  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  iv. 

"  The  Shannon  had  a  better  crew.  Besides  her  complement 
she  had  seamen  from  two  other  ships.  That  crew,  too,  had  been 
long  at  sea ;  long  in  the  ship ;  were  known ;  were  tried ;  and 
as  commodore  Broke  sent  a  challenge,  were,  of  course,  men  on 
whom,  if  they  were  not  picked  for  the  occasion,  he  knew  he 
could  confide.  The  Chesapeake  had,  on  the  contrary,  in  part, 
a  new  crew,  unknown  to  their  officers,  not  yet  knowing  their 
places  or  the  ship.  The  ship  had  not  been  more  than  a  few 
hours  at  sea,  and  the  landsmen  and  the  landswomen  had  been 
dismissed  from  her  on  the  very  day  of  the  engagement.  The 
officers,  too,  although  we  should  be  the  last  to  detract  from  their 
merits,  and  although  the  manner  in  which  they  fought  their 
ship  does  them  the  highest  honour,  the  officers  were  young  and 
few  in  number,  and  had  as  yet  hardly  any  opportunity  of  dis- 
ciplining or  knowing  their  seamen ;  yet,  under  all  these  disad- 
vantages, the  great  damage  sustained  by  the  Shannon,  and  the 
great  loss  of  her  crew,  all  which  took  place  before  the  boarding, 
warrant  completely  the  opinion,  that,  but  for  the  accidental  loss 
of  officers,  the  victory  would  have  been  with  the  Chesapeake*." 

§  6.  The  brig  Argus,  commanded  by  lieutenant  Allen,  sailed 
from  New  York  about  the  middle  of  May,  having  on  board 
Mr.  Crawford,  our  minister  for  France.  She  arrived  at  L'Ori- 
ent  on  the  12th  of  June,  and  shortly  after  sailed  on  a  cruize. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  being  then  in  St.  George's  channel, 
where  she  had  made  a  number  of  captures,  she  was  discovered 
by  the  Pelican  sloop  of  war,  which  had  been  despatched  in 
search  of  her.  As  soon  as  Allen  discovered  the  Pelican  he 
shortened  sail,  and  the  two  vessels  got  alongside  about  half  past 
five  in  the  morning,  when  an  action  commenced,  which  was 
kept  up  with  spirit  on  both  sides  for  three  quarters  of  an  hour, 
when,  lieutenant  Allen  being  mortally  wounded,  and  nearly 
forty  others  killed  and  wounded  on  board  the  Argus,  she  struck 
her  flag.  On  board  the  Pelican  there  were  only  two  killed  and 
five  wounded. 

As  the  American  account  of  this  action  has  not  yet  been  re- 
ceived, owing  probably  to  the  death  of  the  commander,  and  as 
the  British  account  is  unusually  barren,  we  are  not  able  to  state 
any  of  the  particulars.  That  the  Pelican  was  much  superior  in 
force,  however,  there  is  little  room  to  doubt.  She  is  rated  at 
two  guns  more  than  the  Argus  ;  and  it  is  stated,  in  a  London 
paper,  that  in  the  year  1797,  she  beat  off  a  French  44  gun  fri- 
gate, after  an  action  of  two  hours.  There  is  a  circumstance 
mentioned  in  a  Cork  paper,  too,  which  is  totally  kept  out  of 

*  Port  Folio. 


$7.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  57 

view  in  the  official  account,  and  which,  if  true,  takes  away  all 
the  honour  of  the  victory,  small  as  it  is,  from  the  enemy.  "  As 
the  action  closed,"  says  the  Cork  paper,  "  his  majesty's  ship 
Leonidas,  captain  Seymour,  fell  in  with  them."  In  Steele's 
List,  the  Leonidas  is  rated  as  a  38  gun  frigate.  That  a  sloop 
of  war  should  surrender  to  a  vessel  of  superior  force,  when  a  38 
gun  frigate  was  close  aboard  of  them,  is  a  circumstance  surely 
not  to  be  wondered  at. 

A  few  days  after  the  action  lieutenant  Allen  died  of  his 
wounds,  and  was  buried  at  Plymouth  with  the  honours  of  war. 

Previous  to  her  capture,  the  Argus  had  taken  19  vessels, 
most  of  them  in  St.  George's  Channel. 

In  recording  the  loss  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Argus  we  have 
had  to  lament  the  still  greater  loss  of  their  gallant  commanders. 
We  have  now  to  record  an  event,  at  the  remembrance  of  which 
tears  for  our  loss  mingle  with  exultations  for  our  success. 

§  7.  On  the  first  of  September,  the  United  States  brig  Enter- 
prize,  commanded  by  lieutenant  William  Burrows,  sailed  from 
Portsmouth  on  'a  cruize.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d  Burrows 
discovered  a  schooner,  which  was  chased  into  Portland  har- 
,bour,  where  the  Enterprize  was  brought  to  anchor.  Having 
received  information  of  several  privateers  being  off  Manhagan, 
he  weighed  anchor  and  swept  out  the  following  morning,  and 
stood  for  that  place.  Next  day  a  large  brig  of  war  was  dis- 
covered, to  which  chase  was  immediately  given.  The  enemy 
fired  several  guns,  and  stood  for  the  Enterprize,  with  four  en- 
signs hoisted.  After  manocuvering  and  reconnoitering  for  some 
time  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  the  force  of  the  enemy,  Bur- 
rows, about  three  in  the  afternoon,  shortened  sail,  tacked,  and 
run  down,  with  the  intention  of  bringing  her  to  close  action. 
At  20  minutes  after  three  the  firing  commenced  from  both  ves- 
sels, within  half  pistol  shot.  The  action  continued  for  about  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  when  the  Enterprize  ranged  ahead  of  the 
enemy,  rounded  to,  and  raked  her.  Shortly  after  the  main-top- 
mast and  top-sail-yard  of  the  enemy  came  down.  The  foresail 
of  the  Enterprize  was  then  set,  and  she  took  a  position  on  the 
starboard  bow  of  the  enemy,  and  continued  to  rake  her,  until, 
about  40  minutes  after  the  commencement  of  the  action,  the 
enemy  ceased  firing,  and  cried  for  quarters :  their  colours  be- 
ing nailed  to  the  masts,  could  not  be  hauled  down. 

The  prize  proved  to  be  the  British  brig  Boxer,  of  14  guns. 
The  number  of  her  crew  could  not  be  ascertained,  but  64  pri- 
soners were  taken,  including  17  wounded.  Captain  Hull,  in  a 
letter  to  commodore  Bainbridge,  describing  the  state  of  the 
Boxer  when  brought  into  port,  says  that  there  was  every  occa- 

VOL.    I.   TART  II.  H 


58  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP. 

sion  to  believe  that  there  were  10O  men  on  board.  On  board 
the  Enterprize  there  was  only  one  killed  and  thirteen  wounded, 
two  of  whom  died  of  their  wounds. 

Lieutenant  Burrows  fell  in  the  commencement  o'f  the  action  ; 
he,  however,  refused  to  be  carried  below,  but,  raising  his  head, 
requested  that  the  flag  might  never  be  struck.  When  the  sword 
of  the  vanquished  enemy  was  presented  to  the  dying  conqueror, 
he  clasped  his  hands  and  said,  "  I  am  satisfied  ;  I  die  content- 
ed ;"  and  then,  and  not  till  then,  would  he  consent  to  be  carriec" 
below,  where  every  attention  was  paid  to  save  his  life,  but  ii 
vain.  A  few  hours  after  the  victory  he  breathed  his  last.- 
Captain  Blythe,  the  commander  of  the  Boxer,  also  fell  in  th« 
commencement  of  the  action,  having  received  a  cannon  shot 
through  the  body.  His  remains,  in  company  with  those  of 
Burrows,  were  brought  to  Portland,  where  the  two  commanders 
were  interred,  side  by  side,  with  military  honours. 

The  Boxer  was  so  much  damaged  in  her  sails,  rigging,  spars, 
hull,  &c.,  as  to  render  it  difficult  to  carry  her  into  port.  The 
Enterprize  received  but  trifling  injury.  On  an  examination  of 
the  prize,  she  was  adjudged  wholly  to  the  captors,  agreeably  to 
law,  as  a  vessel  of  superior  force. 

§  8.  On  the  23d  of  April,  the  President  frigate,  commanded' 
by  commodore  Rodgers,  sailed  from  Boston.  On  the  30th  he 
took  his  departure  from  President  road,  in  company  with  the 
Congress,  commanded  by  captain  Smith.  On  the  3d  of  May, 
while  in  chase  of  a  British  brig  of  war,  near  the  shoal  of  George's 
Bank,  they  passed  to  windward  of  three  sail,  two  of  which, 
from  their  appearance,  and  from  information  previously  receiv- 
ed, were  supposed  to  be  the  La  Hogue,  74,  the  Nymph  frigate, 
and  a  merchant  brig.  After  getting  clear  of  George's  Bank, 
they  continued  along  east  southwardly,  in  the  direction  of  the 
southern  edge  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  until  the  8th  of  May,  when 
the  President  parted  company  with  the  Congress,  the  latter  be- 
ing in  chase  of  a  vessel,  which  proved  to  be  an  American  mer- 
chantman. After  parting  company,  Rodgers  shaped  his  course, 
as  near  as  the  wind  would  permit,  to  intercept  the  enemy's  West 
India  commerce  passing  to  the  southward  of  the  Grand  Bank. 
Not  meeting  with  any  thing  in  this  direction  except  American 
vessels  from  Lisbon  and  Cadiz,  he  next  pursued  a  route  to  the 
northward,  so  as  to  cross  the  tracks  of  the  West  India,  Halifax, 
Quebec,  and  St.  John's  trade.  Not  meeting  any  thing  in  this 
route,  however,  after  reaching  the  latitude  of  38°  N.,  he  steered 
to  i.heS.  E.  towards  the  Azores,  ofFwhich,  in  different  directions, 
he  continued  until  the  6th  of  June,  without  meeting  a  single  en- 


£8.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  59 

;my's  vessel.  At  this  time,  falling  in  with  an  American  ship 
bound  to  Cadiz,  and  receiving  information  that  she  had,  four 
lays  before,  passed  an  enemy's  convoy  from  the  West  Indies, 
x>und  to  England,  Rodgers  crowded  sail  to  the  N.  E.,  and,  al- 
:hough  disappointed  in  falling  in  with  the  convoy,  nevertheless 
nade  four  captures,  between  the  9th  and  13th  of  June. 

Being  now  in  the  latitude  of  46°  N.,  and  longitude   28°  W., 
Rodgers  shaped  a  course  that  afforded  a  prospect  of  falling  in 
with  vessels  bound  to  Newfoundland  from  St.  George's  Chan- 
nel, by  the  way  of  Cape  Clear,  as  well  as  others  that  might  pass 
north  about  to  the  northward  of  Ireland  ;  to  his  astonishment, 
however,  in  all  this  route,  he  did  not  meet  with  a  single  vessel, 
until  he  made  the  Shetland  Islands,  and  even  off  there  nothing 
but  Danish  vessels,  trading  to  England  under  British  licenses. 
A  considerable  portion  of  their  provisions  and  water  being  now 
expended,  it  became  necessary  to  replenish  these,  previous  to 
determining  what  course  to  pursue  next ;    accordingly,  for  this 
purpose,  trjey  put  into  North  Bergen  on  the  27th   June  ;  but 
were  not  able  to  obtain  any  thing  but  water,  there  being  an  unu- 
sual scarcity  of  bread  in  every  part  of  Norway,  and  at  the  time 
not  more  in  Bergen  than  a  bare  sufficiency  for  its  inhabitants  for 
four  or  five  weeks.       After  replenishing  his  water,  Rodgers 
strteched  over  towards  the  Orkney  islands,  and  thence  towards 
the   North  Cape,  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting  a  convoy  of 
twenty-five  or  thirty  sail,  which  it  was  said  would  leave  Arch- 
angel about  the  middle  of  July,  under  the  protection  of  two 
brigs  or  two  sloops  of  war.  In  this  object,  however,  he  was  dis- 
appointed, by  a  line  of  battle  ship  and  frigate  making  their  ap- 
pearance off  the  North  Cape  on  the  19th  of  July,  just  as  he  was 
in  momentary  expectation  of  meeting  the  convoy.     On  discov- 
ering the  ships  of  war,  Rodgers  stood  towards  them  to  ascertain 
their  character,  when  he  hauled  by  the  wind  on  the  opposite  tack 
to  avoid  them  ;  but,  owing  to  faint,  variable  winds,  calms,  and 
entire  day-light,  the  sun  in  that  latitude,  at  that  season,  ap- 
pearing a£  midnight  several  degrees  above   the   horizon,  they 
were  enabled  to  continue  the  chase  upwards  of  eighty  hours  ; 
during  which  time,  owing  to  different  changes  of  the  wind,  they 
were  brought  quite  as  near  as  was  desirable. 

Disappointed  in  meeting  with  the  convoy,  Rodgers  now  steer- 
ed to  gain  the  direction  of  the  trade  passing  out  of  and  into  the 
Irish  Channel.  In  this  position,  between  the  25th  of  July  and 
2d  of  August,  he  made  three  captures,  when,  finding  that  the 
enemy  had  a  superior  force  in  that  vicinity,  he  made  a  circuit 
round  Ireland,  and  then  ste.-r-d  for  the  banks  of  Newfoundland, 
near  which  he  made  two  more  captures,  and  by  the  latter  cms 


Go  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  i\. 

learned  that  a  74  and  a  frigate  were  on  the  eastern  part  of  the 
bank,  only  a  few  miles  to  the  westward  ;  he,  however,  did  not 
fall  in  with  them. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  to  the  southward  of  Nantuckef 
shoals,  Rodgers  fell  in  with  and  captured,  in  a  very  singular 
manner,  the  British  schooner  Highflyer,  tender  to  admiral  War- 
ren. On  approaching  the  schooner  she  hoisted  a  private  signal, 
which  was  answered  by  the  President,  by  a  signal  which  fortu- 
nately proved  to  be  the  British  one  for  that  day,  on  seeing  which 
the  Highflyer  immediately  bore  up,  and  was  boarded  by  one  of 
the  officers  of  the  President  in  a  British  uniform.  By  this  stra- 
tagem commodore  Rodgers  gained  possession  of  the  British 
private  signals,  and  admiral  Warren's  instructions,  by  which 
was  discovered  the  number  of  British  squadrons  on  the 
American  coast,  with  their  force  and  relative  positions. — He 
was  thus  enabled  to  avoid  them,  and  on  the  26th  of  September 
arrived  safely  at  Newport,  Rhode-Island. 

During  the  cruise,  the  President  captured  twelve  British  ves- 
st'ls,  three  of  which  were  ransomed  and  despatched  to  England 
as  cartels  with  216  prisoners  on  parole.  The  British  govern- 
ment, however,  refused  to  sanction  the  terms  of  exchange  enter- 
ed into  and  signed  by  their  officers,  assigning  as  the  reason,  that 
a  such  transactions  are  inconsistent  with  the  established  under- 
standing between  the  two  countries."  The  President,  on  her  ar- 
rival, had  fifty-five  prisoners  on  board. 

The  Congress,  after  parting  with  the  President,  continued 
her  cruise  until  the  12th  of  December,  when  she  arrived  at 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.  She  captured  two  British  brigs  of  ten  guns 
each,  one  of  which  was  destroyed,  and  the  other,  after  being 
dismantled,  was  given  up  to  the  prisoners,  who  were  discharged 
on  parole,  and  furnished  with  provisions,  &c.,  sufficient  to  carry 
them  to  the  West  Indies.  She  likewise  captured  a  British'ship 
laden  with  wine  and  potatoes,  which  was  destroyed  after  the 
greater  part  of  her  cargo  was  taken  out. 

After  parting  with  the  President,  the  Congress  ran  to  the 
southward  ;  and,  crossing  the  equator,  put  into  Seara,  on  the 
Brazil  coast.  After  watering,  she  beat  against  a  strong  wind 
and  current,  up  to  Fernando  de  Noronha,  where  she  again  wa- 
tered ;  and  then  proceeded  to  the  eastward,  in  hopes  to  fall  in 
with  some  Indiamen.  She  cruised  as  far  as  18°W.  from  6° 
S.  to  6°  N.,  under  easy  sail,  made  the  Island  of  St.  Pauls  ;  but 
until  her  return  to  Fernando  de  Noronha,  \vhich  was  nearly 
three  moiv.hs,  never  saw  a  vessel.  She  then  returned  to  Seara, 
where  she  took  in  a  quantity  of  cassada,  jerked  beef,  &c.  and  run 
under  two  reefed  topsails  to  latitude  44°  N.,  passing  near  Ha- 


C)  9.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  61 

lifax,  where  she  captured  a  brig,  who  informed  them  of  Boston 
being  blockaded  by  a  superior  force.  She  accordingly  made  for 
Portsmouth,  where  she  arrived,  with  her  crew,  410  men,  in  per- 
fect health,  having  lost  but  four  on  the  cruise.  When  the  men 
commenced  on  the  jerked  beef  and  cassada,  it  did  not  agree 
with  them,  and  about  fifty  were  sick — but  they  soon  recovered. 
The  Congress  is  in  perfect  order,  and  will  want  no  repairs.  She 
had  on  board  about  30  prisoners  on  her  arrival. 

§  9.  The  Essex  frigate  sailed  from  the  capes  of  the  Dela- 
ware on  the  25th  of  October,  1812,  on  a  cruise  to  the  Pacific 
ocean,  and  has  not  yet  returned.  Le.ters,  however,  dated  July 
2,  1813,  were  received  at  the  navy  department  about  the  middle 
of  December  following,  from  her  commander,  captain  Porter, 
at  which  time  he  was  cruising  oif  the  western  coast  of  South 
America,  with  a  fleet  of  nine  armed  vessels  under  his  com- 
mand, eight  of  which  were  British  letters  of  marque,  which  he 
had  captured  and  fitted  out.  The  first  of  these  vessels,  which 
was  a  ship  of  two  guns  and  twenty-one  men,  was  captured  on 
the  29th  of  April.  Two  others  were  then  in  sight,  close  to- 
gether, about  seven  miles,  distant  from  the  Essex;  the  one 
mounting  ten  guns,  6  and  9  pounders;  the  other  six  18  pound- 
ers, four  swivels,  and  six  long  blunderbusses,  mounted  on  swi- 
vels. The  wind  being  light  and  variable,  and  confiding  greatly 
in  the  bravery  and  enterprise  of  his  officers  and  men,  and  appre- 
hensive of  their  escape,  from  the  prevalence  of  fogs  in  that  cli- 
mate, Porter  directed  the  boats  of  the  Essex  to  be  armed  and 
manned,  and  divided  into  two  divisions.  Suitable  signals  we  re 
established,  and  each  boat  had  her  particular  station  pointed  out 
for  the  attack,  and  eyery  other  previous  arrangement  was  made 
to  prevent  confusion. 

The  boats,  7  in  number,  rowed  off  in  admirable  order.  Guns 
were  fired  from  the  enemy  to  terrify  them ;  they  rowed  up  how- 
ever, undismayed,  under  the  muzzles  of  their  guns,  and  took 
their  stations  for  attacking  the  first  ship,  and  no  sooner  was  the 
American  flag  displayed,  as  the  signal  for  boarding,  and  the  in- 
tention discovered  by  the  enemy,  than  their  colours  were  struck 
without  a  shot  being  fired.  They  then  left  a  crew  on  board  the 
prize,  and  took  their  stations  for  attacking  the  other  vessel, 
when  her  flag  was  also  struck,  on  the  first  call  to  surrender. 
Thus  were  two  fine  British  ships,  each  pierced  for  twenty  guns, 
worth  near  half  a  million  of  dollars,  mounting  between  them  16 
guns,  and  manned  with  55  men,  well  supplied  wijth  ammunition 
and  small  arms,  surrendered,  without  the  slightest  resistance,  to 
seven  small  open  boats,  with  fifty  men,  armed  only  with  mus- 
kets, pistols,  boarding  axes,  and  cutlasses. 


62  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  iv. 

On  the  26th  of  March,  previous  to  the  capture  of  any  of 
the  letters  of  marque,  Porter  fell  in  with  the  Peruvian  corsair 
ship  Nereyda,  mounting  15  guns,  which  had,  a  few  days  before, 
captured  two  American  whale  ships,  the  crews  of  which, 
amounting  in  number  to  24  men,  were  then  detained  prisoners 
on  board.  As  they  could  assign  no  other  motive  for  the  cap- 
ture, than  that  they  were  the  allies  of  Great  Britain,  and,  as 
such,  should  capture  all  American  vessels  they  could  fall  in 
with,  Porter,  to  prevent  in  future  such  vexatious  proceedings, 
threw  all  her  armament  into  the  sea,  liberated  the  Americans, 
and  dismissed  the  Nereyda.  He  then  proceeded  with  all  possi- 
ble dispatch  for  Lima,  to  intercept  one  of  the  detained  vessels, 
which  had  parted  with  the  Nereyda  only  three  days  before,  and 
was  so  fortunate  as  to  arrive  there  and  re-capture  her  on  the  5th 
April,  at  the  moment  she  was  entering  the  port. 

Captain  Porter  describes  his  crew  as  enjoying  remarkably 
good  health  and  spirits,  no  symptoms  of  scurvy  having  appear- 
ed, although  they  had  been  at  sea  for  eight  months,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  23  days.  The  Essex  is  in  prime  order,  with  abund- 
ant supplies,  and  two  of  her  consorts  are  fitted  out  with  20  guns 
each,  and  well  manned.  He  mentions  that  British  letters  of 
marque  are  numerous  in  those  seas,  and  that  the  American 
whalers  had  derived  much  benefit  from  his  cruize. 

§  10.  Since  the  commencement  of  the  war,  the  United  States 
have  lost  the  following  vessels,  viz. 

The  Frigate  Chesapeake,  rated  36  and  mounting  44  guns. 

The  Wasp  sloop  of  war,  rated  16  and  mounting  18  guns. 

The  brig  Argus  of  16  guns. 

The  schooners  Nautilus,  Vixen,  and  Viper,  of  12  guns 
each. 

The  captures  of  the  three  former  have  already  been  men- 
tioned. Of  the  schooners,  the  first  was  captured  by  a  British 
squadron;  the  two  latter  by  British  frigates  rating  32  guns  each. 
A  few  days  after  the  capture  of  the  Vixen  by  the  Southampton, 
under  sir  James  Lucas  Yeo,  both  vessels  were  lost  on  a  reef  of 
rocks  near  Little  Windward  or  Conception  island.  As  soon  as 
the  vessel  struck,  the  crew  of  the  British  frigate  became  quite 
unmanageable,  and  every  soul  on  board  would  have  been  lost 
but  for  the  exertions  of  their  prisoners.  The  conduct  of  the 
American  seamen,  both  at  the  time  of  the  ship's  striking,  and 
afterwards  on  the  uninhabited  island  on  which  they  saved  them- 
selves, was  such  as  to  induce  sir  James  to  assemble  them  before 
his  own  crew,  and  thank  them  publicly  for  their  service's.  They 
were  taken  from  this  island  by  a  brig  from  New  Providence, 


§11—13.]         ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  63 

whither  Yeo  had  despatched  a  boat  to  make  known  their  situa- 
tion. 

$11.  The  bravery  and  enterprize  of  American  seamen  have 
not  been  less  conspicuous  on  board  our  privateers  than  in  the 
national  vessels.  We  shall  here  present  an  account  of  a  few  of 
the  most  conspicuous  actions  that  have  taken  place. 

§  12.  In  no  one  action  fought  during  the  present  war,  has 
there  been  more  courage  and  gallantry  displayed  than  in  the  at- 
tack made  by  the  privateer  Rolla  on  the  British  ship  Rio  Nueva. 
The  Rolla  originally  carried  four  twelve  pound  carronades  in 
her  waist,  and  one  double  fortified  twelve,  mounted  on  a 
pivot.  In  a  gale  of  wind  off  Madeira,  the  4  twelve  pounders 
were  obliged  to  be  thrown  overboard,  and  only  one  gun  remain- 
ed :  with  this,  however,  on  the  14th  of  December,  1812,  the 
Rolla  attacked  the  Rio  Nueva,  mounting  18  guns,  and  30  men, 
and  took  her  after  an  action  of  twenty-five  minutes.  During 
the  action,  the  men  on  board  the  Rolla,  animated  by  the  courage 
and  conduct  of  captain  Dooley  and  his  officers,  evinced  a  fixed 
determination  to  take  the  enemy  or  perish.  When  the  ship 
struck,  the  Rolla  had  ranged  up  within  pistol  shot,  and  was  pre- 
paring to  board. 

§  13.  The  privateer  schooner  Comet,  captain  Thomas  Boyle, 
sailed  from  Cape  Henry,  on  the  25th  of  November,  1812,  on  a 
cruize  to  the  coast  of  South  America.  On  the  12th  of  Decem- 
ber, at  one  in  the  afternoon,  she  discovered  four  sail  standing  out 
of  Pernambuco,  and  lay  by  to  give  them  an  opportunity  of 
getting  off  shore,  in  order  to  cut  them  off.  At  three,  they  be- 
ing then  about  six  leagues  from  the  land,  she  bore  up  and  made 
all  sail  in  chase  of  them  ;  and  at  six,  having  discovered  one  of 
them  to  be  a  very  large  man  of  war  brig,  all  hands  were  called 
to  quarters,  the  guns  loaded  with  round  and  grape  shot^  the  deck 
cleared,  and  all  got  ready  for  action.  At  seven,  being  then  close 
to  the  chase,  the  Comet  hoisted  her  colours,  and  sheered  up 
to  the  man  of  war,  which  had  hoisted  Portuguese  colours. 
The  Portuguese  then  sent  his  boat  on  board  the  Comet,  the  offi- 
cer of  which  informed  captain  Boyle  that  the  brig  was  a  Portu- 
guese national  vessel,  mounting  20  thirty-two  pounders,  and 
165  men,  and  that  the  three  others  were  English  vessels  under 
his  protection,  which  he  would  not  suffer  to  be  molested  ;  he 
also  mentioned  that  the  English  vessels  were  armed  and  very 
strong.  Boyle  having  shown  him  his  commission,  answered, 
that  the  brig  had  no  right  to  protect  English  vessels  on  the  high 
seas,  and  tljjat  he  was  determined  to  capture  those  vessels  if  he 
coijldV'that  he  should  be  sorry  if  anv  thing  disagreeable  took 
place,  but  if  it  did  he  would  not  be  the  aggressor ;  but  that  he 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  iv. 

should  certainly  resist  any  attempt  to  prevent  his  capturing  the 
vessels.  The  officer  having  now  returned  on  board  the  brig,  Boyle 
hailed  her,  and  distinctly  stated  his  intention  of  immediately  at- 
tacking the  convoy,  which  consisted  of  a  ship  of  14  guns,  and 
two  brigs  of  10  guns  each,  the  whole  force,  including  the  Portu- 
guese, being  54  guns. 

Boyle  accordingly  made  sail  for  the  English  vessels,  which 
were  close  together,  and  about  half  past  eight,  the  moon  shining 
clear,  he  hailed  the  ship,  ordering  them  to  back  the  main  top- 
sails. Little  or  no  answer  being  given,  Boyle,  having  quick 
way  at  the  time,  shot  a  little  ahead,  saying  he  should  be  along 
side  again  in  a  few  minutes,  when,  if  his  orders  were  not  obey- 
ed, a  broadside  would  be  poured  into  him.  After  a  few  min- 
utes he  tacked,  the  man  of  war  close  after  him.  He  then  ran 
alongside  the  ship,  one  of  the  brigs  being  close  to  her,  and  open- 
ed his  broadside  upon  them  both,  all  the  vessels  at  this  time  car- 
rying a  crowd  of  canvass.  From  his  superior  sailing  Boyle  was 
frequently  obliged  to  tack,  by  which  he  would  have  receiv- 
ed considerable  advantage,  had  he  not  been  closely  followed 
by  the  man  of  war,  which  now  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon 
him,  which  was  returned  by  the  Comet.  Having  now  the 
whole  force  to  contend  with,  Boyle  kept  as  close  as  possi- 
ble to  the  English  vessels,  which  frequently  separated  to 
give  the  man  of  war  an  opportunity  of  giving  a  broadside. 
The  Comet  continued  the  action,  sometimes  pouring  her 
broadsides  into  the  merchantmen,  at  others  into  the  man  of  war, 
until  eleven  o'clock,  when  the  ship  surrendered,  being  all  cut  to 
pieces,  and  rendered  unmanageable,  and  directly  after  one  of 
the  brigs,  which  was  also  very  much  disabled.  A  boat  was 
now  despatched  to  take  possession  of  the  brig,  but  it  was  forced 
to  return,  being  prevented  from  passing  by  the  fire  of  the  man 
of  war,  one  of  whose  broadsides  almost  succeeded  in  sinking  it. 
The  Comet  now  directed  the  whole  of  her  fire  at  the  Portuguese, 
who  soon  sheered  off,  and  was  followed  for  a  short  distance  by 
the  Comet,  which  then  returned,  and  made  the  third  merchant- 
man surrender,  she  also  being  cut  to  pieces. 

Boyle  now  took  possession  of  the  Bowes,  the  brig  that  had 
first  surrendered.  He  also  spoke  the  ship,  and  ordered  the 
captain  to  follow  him,  who  answered,  that  his  ship  was  in  a 
sinking  condition,  having  many  shot  holes  between  wind  and 
water,  and  not  a  rope  but  what  was  cut  away  ;  but  that  he 
would,  if  possible,  follow  his  orders,  for  his  own  safety.  As 
soon  as  the  Bowes  was  taken  possession  of,  she  received  a  pass- 
ing broadside  from  the  Portuguese.  '  The  moon  having  now 
set,  it  became  very  dark  and  squally,  and  the  Comet  was  sepa- 


$  14, 15.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  65 

rated  from  all  the  vessels  except  the  man  of  war,  with  whom 
for  half  an  hour  longer  she  continued  occasionally  to  exchange 
broadsides.  At  day-light,  however,  the  vessels  being  tound  to 
be  still  in  the  neighbourhood,  the  Comet  wore  close  to  her 
prize.  The  man  of  war  then  stood  down  for  them  ;  on  perceiv- 
ing which  Boyle  immediately  hove  about,  and  stood  for  him, 
when  he  also  tacked,  and  made  signals  for  the  convoy  to  make 
the  first  port.  The  two  merchantmen  accordingly  put  before 
the  wind,  accompanied  by  the  Portuguese,  by  whose  assistance 
and  their  own  exertions  they  succeeded  with  the  utmost  diffi- 
culty in  regaining  the  harbour  of  Pernambuco,  leaving  the 
Bowes  in  possession  of  the  Comet. 

§  14.  On  the  llth  of  March,  1813,  the  General  Armstrong, 
a  privateer  schooner,  while  cruizing  off  the  mouth  of  Surinam 
river,  discovered  a  sail,  which  was  supposed  to  be  a  British  let- 
ter of  marque,  and  immediately  bore  down  on  her,  with  the  in- 
tention of  giving  her  two  broadsides  and  then  boarding.  After 
giving  her  one  broadside,  and  wearing  and  giving  another,  to 
their  surprise  they  found  they  were  alongside  of  a  frigate,  pier- 
ced for  14  guns  on  the  main-deck,  6  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  4 
on  the  forecastle.  The  wind  being  light,  the  privateer  lay  for 
about  ten  minutes  like  a  log  in  the  water.  During  that  time, 
however,  they  shot  away  the  frigate's  fore  top-sail  tie,  his  mizen 
gaff  haulyards,  which  brought  his  colours  down,  and  his  mizen 
and  main  stay,  when,  thinking  she  had  struck,  they  ceased  firing; 
but  being  soon  undeceived,  they  recommenced  the  action.  The 
frigate  lay  for  a  few  minutes  apparently  unmanageable,  but  soon 
getting  way,  opened  such  a  heavy  fire  as  would  soon  have  sunk 
the  schooner,  had  she  not  succeeded  in  making  her  escape  by  the 
assistance  of  her  sweeps.  In  this  action,  which  continued  for 
45  minutes,  the  privateer  had  6  men  killed  and  16  wounded. 
All  the  haulyards  of  her  head  sails  were  shot  away,  the  fore 
mast  and  bowsprit  one  quarter  cut  through,  all  the  fore  and 
main  shrouds  but  one  cut  away,  both  mainstays  and  running 
rigging  cut  to  pieces,  a  great  number  of  shot  through  the  sails, 
and  several  between  wind  and  water,  which  caused  the  vessel  to 
leak,  and  a  number  in  the  hull.  While  they  were  getting  away 
from  the  frigate,  she  kept  up  a  well  directed  fire  for  the  foremast 
and  gaff  of  the  schooner,  but  without  effect. 

$  15.  On  the  5th  of  August,  1813,  the  privateer  Decatur, 
being  on  a  cruize,  discovered  a  ship  and  a  schooner,  the  first  of 
which  proved  to  be  the  British  packet  Princess  Charlotte,  the 
other  the  British  vessel  of  war,  the  Dominica.  She  immedi- 
ately stood  towards  them,  and  soon  found  herself  abreast  of  the 
schooner.  Both  vessels  continued  to  manoeuvre  for  two  or  three 

VOL  I.  PART.  II.  I 


06  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.IV. 

hours,  the  Dominica  endeavouring  to  escape,  and  the  Decatur 
to  board,  during  which  time  several  broadsides  were  fired  by 
the  former,  and  a  number  of  shot  from  the  large  gun  of  the 
latter.  The  Decatur  at  last  succeeded  in  boarding  the  Domi- 
nica, a  number  of  the  men  passing  into  her  stern  from  the  bow- 
sprit. The  fire  from  the  artillery  and  musketry  was  now  terri- 
ble, being  well  supported  on  both  sides.  The  Dominica,  how- 
ever, not  being  able  to  disengage  herself,  dropped  alongside  of 
the  Decatur,  and  in  this  position  was  boarded  by  her  whole 
crew.  Fire-arms  now  became  useless,  the  crews  fighting  hand 
to  hand  with  cutlasses,  and  throwing  cold  shot ;  when,  the  cap- 
tain and  principal  officers  of  the  Dominica  being  killed,  and  her 
deck  covered  with  dead  and  wounded,  the  British  colours  were 
hauled  down  by  the  conquerors. 

During  the  combat,  which  lasted  an  hour,  the  Princess  Char- 
lotte remained  a  silent  spectator  of  the  scene,  and  as  soon  as  it 
was  over,  she  tacked  about  and  stood  to  the  southward.  She 
had  sailed  from  St.  Thomas,  bound  to  England,  under  convoy, 
to  a  certain  latitude,  of  the  Dominica. 

The  Decatur  was  armed  with  6  twelve  pound  carronades,  and 
1  eighteen  pounder  on  a  pivot,  with  103  men.  Her  loss  in  the 
action  was  three  killed  and  sixteen  wounded,  one  of  whom  af- 
terwards died.  The  Dominica  had  12  twelve  pound  carron- 
ades, two  long  sixes,  one  brass  four  pounder,  and  one  thirty-two 
pound  carronade  on  a  pivot,  with  83  men.  She  had  13  killed 
and  47  wounded,  5  of  whom  afterwards  died  of  their  wounds. 
Perhaps  this  engagement  has  been  the  most  bloody,  and  the 
lost  of  the  killed  and  wounded  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  engaged,  perhaps  the  greatest,  of  any  ac- 
tion to  be  found  in  the  records  of  naval  warfare.  The  surviv- 
ing officers  of  the  Dominica  attribute  the  loss  of  their  vessel  to 
the  superior  skill  of  the  Decatur's  crew  in  the  use  of  musquetry, 
and  the  masterly  manoeuvring  of  that  vessel,  by  which  their  car- 
riage guns  were  rendered  nearly  useless.  The  captain  was  a 
young  man  of  not  more  than  25  years  of  age ,-  he  had  been 
wounded  early  in  the  action  by  two  musket  balls  in  the  left  arm, 
but  he  fought  till  the  last  moment,  refusing  to  surrender  his  ves- 
sel, although  he  was  urged  by  the  few  survivors  of  his  crew  to 
do  so  ;  declaring  his  determination  not  to  survive  her  loss. 

The  Decatur  arrived  at  Charleston  on  the  20th  of  August 
with  her  prize.  The  surviving  officers  of  the  Dominica  spoke 
in  the  highest  terms  of  approbation  of  the  humanity  and  atten- 
tion displayed  towards  them  by  the  officers  and  crew  of  the 
Decatur. 


1.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  67 


CHAPTER  V. 


§  1.  Battle  near  the  river  Raisin.  §  2.  Battle  of  Frenchtown.  §  3.  Mas- 
sacre of  the  prisoners.  §  4.  Fort  Meigs  constructed.  §  5.  Siege  of 
Fort  Meigs.  §  6.  Skirmishing  on  the  St.  Lawrence.  §  7.  Capture  of 
Ogdensburg.  §  8.  Capture  of  York.  §  9.  Capture  of  Fort  George. 
§  10.  Generals  Chandler  and  Winder  made  prisoners.  §  11.  Capture 
of  Boerstler's  detachment.  §  12.  Attack  on  Sackett's  Harbour.  §  13. 
Sodus  burnt.  §  14.  Second  attempt  on  Sackett's  Harbour.  §  15.  At- 
tack on  Black  Rock.  §  16.  Siege  of  Lower  Sandusky. 

§  1.  TOWARDS  the  beginning  of  January,  general  Tupper 
having  in  a  manner  paved  the  way  by  his  expeditions*,  general 
Winchester  proceeded  down  the  Miami  from  Fort  Defiance  to 
the  Rapids,  with  the  force  under  his  command.  On  his  arrival 
there,  he  was  strongly  urged  by  the  inhabitants  of  Frenchtown, 
on  the  river  Raisin,  to  protect  them  from  the  violence  and  out- 
rage of  the  horde  of  savages  by  whom  they  were  surrounded, 
and  to  whose  brutalities  they  were  daily  exposed.  Yielding  to 
the  call  of  humanity,  Winchester,  on  the  17th  of  January,  by 
the  unanimous  advice  of  his  officers,  but,  it  appears,  without 
consulting  general  Harrrison,  detached  a  body  -  of  about  750 
men,  under  general  Lewis,  to  their  relief. 

On  the  following  day,  when  within  three  miles  of  French- 
town,  information  was  received  that  a  body  of  British  and  Indi- 
ans were  encamped  at  that  place,  and  that  they  had  received 
notice  of  their  approach.  The  troops  were  accordingly  arrang- 
ed and  directed  to  prepare  for  action,  and  then  proceeded  within 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  enemy,  who  immediately  commenced 
a  fire  with  a  howitzer,  from  which,  however,  no  injury  was  re- 
ceived. The  line  of  battle  being  instantly  formed,  the  whole 
detachment  was  ordered  to  advance  across  the  river  on  the  ice ; 
in  which  they  succeeded,  though  it  was  in  many  places  extreme- 
ly slippery.  The  left  wing  and  centre  were  then  ordered  to  possess 
themselves  of  the  houses  and  picketing  about  which  the  enemy 
had  collected,  and  where  they  had  placed  their  cannon.  This 
order  was  executed  in  a  few  minutes.  Both  battalions  advan- 
ced amidst  an  incessant  shower  of  bullets,  and  succeeded  in 
dislodging  the  enemy,  neither  the  picketing  nor  the  fencing  over 
which  they  had  to  pass  checking  their  progress. 

•  See  Chapter  III. 


68  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.          [CHAP.  v. 

The  right  wing  fell  in  with  the  the  enemy  at  a  considerable 
distance  to  the  right,  and  pursued  them  a  mile  to  the  woods, 
where  they  made  a  <;tand  with  their  howitzer  and  small  arms, 
covered  by  a  chain  of  enclosed  lots  and  a  group  of  houses,  wit! 
a  thick  brushy  wood  full  of  fallen  timber  in  their  rear.  Lewis 
now  ordered  the  left  and  centre  to  possess  themselves  of  the 
wood  on  the  left,  and  to  move  up  towards  the  main  body  of  the 
enemy  as  fast  as  practicable,  in  order  to  divert  their  attentior 
from  the  right.  At  the  moment  that  the  left  and  centre  com- 
menced their  fire,  the  right  advanced,  and  the  enemy  being  soor 
driven  from  the  fences  and  houses,  both  parties  entered  the  wood 
together.  The  fight  now  became  close,  and  extremely  hot  on 
the  right  wing,  the  enemy  concentrating  their  forces  on  that  side, 
in  order  to  force  the  line.  They  were,  however,  still  obliged  tc 
retreat,  although  slowly,  the  Americans  being  much  fatigued,  and 
were  driven,  on  the  whole,  not  less  than  two  miles,  every  foot  of 
the  way  under  a  continual  charge. 

The  battle  lasted  from  three  in  the  afternoon  till  dark,  when 
the  detachment  was  drawn  off  in  good  order,  and  encamped  at 
the  place  which  the  enemy  had  first  occupied. 

The  force  of  the  enemy  in  this  affair  has  never  been  exactly 
ascertained  ;  but,  from  the  best  information,  there  was  80  to  10O 
British  and  400  Indians.  The  number  of  their  killed  and 
wounded  is  likewise  unknown,  as  they  were  enabled  to  carry  off 
all  but  those  left  on  the  field  where  the  battle  commenced,  which 
was  about  fifteen  ;  but  from  the  blood,  the  trails  of  bodies  drag- 
ged off,  and  the  reports  of  the  people  who  lived  near  the  place, 
the  slaughter  must  have  been  great.  One  Indian  and  two  of  the 
Canadian  militia  were  taken  prisoners.  A  quantitity  of  public 
stores  was  also  taken.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  twelve 
killed  and  fifty-five  wounded. 

On  the  20th,  general  Winchester  joined  the  detachment,  with 
a  reinforcement  of  25O  men. 

§  2.  Meanwhile  colonel  Proctor,  who  commanded  at  Detroit, 
hearing  of  the  approach  of  the  Americans,  advanced  to  meet 
them  with  a  body  of  15OO  Indians  and  British,  300  of  whom 
were  regulars.  On  the  night  of  the  21st  he  discovered  the 
American  detachment,  and  early  next  morning  commenced  an 
attack  on  their  lines,  The  attack  commenced  at  6  in  the  morn- 
ing, by  a  heavy  fire  of  musquetry,  assisted  by  six  field  pieces. 
The  main  body  of  the  Americans  were  stationed  within  pickets 
on  the  left ;  a  smaller  force,  unprotected,  occupied  the  right, 
who  gallantly  sustained  the  shock  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  when 
they  began  to  give  ground  for  the  purpose  of  forming  in  a  situa- 
tion more  favourable  for  their  fire,  and  less  exposed  to  that  of 


v)  3.J  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  69 

the  enemy.  At  this  moment  Winchester  arrived  at  the  place 
of  conflict,  his  quarters  having  been  at  the  distance  of  three  or 
four  hundred  yards  from  the  camp,  and  his  attention  was  imme- 
diately directed  to  rally  the  retreating  party.  This  retreat, 
however,  being  discovered  by  the  enemy,  the  whole  Indian 
force,  together  with  a  portion  of  the  militia,  bore  down  upon 
them  with  redoubled  violence,  and  by  the  superiority  of  their 
numbers,  and  the  severity  of  their  fire,  prevented  their  forming. 
After  a  short  conflict,  in  which  they  suffered  severely,  all  that 
survived  were  made  prisoners. 

The  left,  who  were  stationed  within  the  pickets,  maintained 
their  ground  for  several  hours,  and  repulsed  the  British  regu- 
lars, in  three  successive  charges,  with  great  slaughter.  About 
1 1  o'clock,  however,  Winchester  was  brought  in  as  a  prisoner 
to  this  part  of  the  field,  and  perceiving  that  resistance  was  in 
vain,  and  influenced  by  the  threat  of  their  being  abandoned  to 
savage  fury  unless  they  instantly  surrendered,  he  acceded  to  a 
capitulation,  and  sent  a  flag  to  the  pickets  to  inform  them  they 
were  prisoners. 

General  Harrison  was  at  Lower  Sandusky,  when  he  received 
the  intelligence  of  Lewis  having  advanced  to  the  river  Raisin. 
Fearing  that  he  might  be  overpowered,  he  immediately  set  out 
for  the  Rapids,  where  he  found  that  Winchester  had  just  set 
oul  with  the  reinforcement.  When  the  news  of  Winchester's 
disaster  reached  Harrison,  he  was  about  three  miles  above  the 
Rapids,  with  360  men.  He  immediately  ordered  them  to  pre- 
pare to  march,  and  set  out  with  his  staff  to  overtake  a  detach- 
ment of  3OO  men  that  had  set  out  that  morning  for  the  river 
Raisin.  He  soon  overtook  them  ;  but  before  the  troops  that  he 
had  left  came  up,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  defeat  was  com- 
plete, and  it  was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  officers  that  the 
detachment  should  return.  A  hundred  and  seventy  of  the  most 
active  men,  however,  were  sent  forward,  with  directions  to  pro- 
ceed as  far  as  possible  to  assist  those  who  were  fortunate  enough 
to  escape.  These,  however,  were  but  few :  the  snow  was  so 
deep  that  the  fugitives  were  entirely  exhausted  in  running  a  few 
miles  ;  those  that  did  get  off  effected  it  by  turning  down  to  the 
lake,  and  secreting  themselves.  There  were  not  more  than  40  or 
50  that  got  a  mile  from  the  scene  of  action,  and  the  greater  part 
even  of  these  were  overtaken. 

§  3.  Though  the  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  Americans  was 
put  an  end  to  by  the  capitulation  concluded  by  Winchester,  we 
regret  to  say,  that  the  most  tragical  events  of  this  disastrous  day- 
are  still  to  be  recorded,  events  which  affix  an  indelible  stain  on 
the  arms  of  the  British.  After  the  battle  the  British  returned 


70  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.  [CHAP.  v. 

to  Maiden  with  their  prisoners,  except  about  50  or  60  wounded, 
who  were  not  able  to  march.  A  few  of  the  Indians  remained 
behind,  who,  being  joined  next  morning  by  about  50  more  from 
Maiden,  immediately  commenced  a  massacre  of  the  wounded 
Americans,  and  afterwards  set  fire  to  the  houses  in  which  they 
had  been  left,  and  consumed  their  remains.  The  same  day  the 
Indians  massacred  a  number  of  their  prisoners  who  had  not 
been  wounded,  whose  remains  they  would  not  suffer  to  be  in- 
terred, but  left  them  above  ground,  where  they  were  torn  to 
pieces  and  devoured  by  hogs.  These  horrid  outrages  are  but 
too  well  substantiated  not  only  by  the  inhabitants  of  French- 
town,  but  by  some  of  the  officers  who  had  the  good  fortune  to 
escape,  by  being  purchased  from  the  savages.  Great  indigni- 
ties were  likewise  inflicted  on  a  surgeon  and  his  two  compan- 
ions, who,  a  few  days  after  the  battle,  had  been  despatched  by 
Harrison  with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  attend  to  the  wounded.  One 
of  them  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  and  the  others  robbed  of  the 
money  with  which  they  had  been  entrusted  by  the  general,  for 
the  relief  of  the  most  pressing  wants  of  the  wounded.  After 
suffering  many  indignities  not  only  from  the  Indians,  but  from 
the  British,  under  the  flimsy  pretext  of  their  using  the  flag  only 
as  a  cover*,  they  were  at  length  set  at  liberty  at  Montreal,  whi- 
ther they  had  been  carried  and  imprisoned. 

§  4.  On  the  23d  of  January,  the  day  after  the  surrender  ot 
Winchester,  Harrison  retreated  to  Carrying  river,  about  mid- 
way between  Sandusky  and  the  Miami.  In  the  following 
month  he  again  advanced  to  the  Rapids,  where  he  constructed  a 
fort,  which,  in  honour  of  the  governor  of  Ohio,  was  named 
Fort  Meigs.  This  fort  contains  about  nine  acres  of  ground, 
nearly  in  an  octagon  form.  At  each  corner  is  a  strong  block- 
house, with  cannon  planted  so  as  to  rake  each  line,  and  com- 
mand every  elevated  point  near  the  fort.  Between  the  block- 
houses are  strong  picketings  fifteen  feet  in  height,  against  which 
a  breastwork  of  clay  is  thrown  up  on  both  sides.  In  addition  to 
this,  several  long  batteries  were  erected,  which  were  well  sup- 
plied with  cannon. 

The  term  of  service  of  a  large  portion  of  the  militia  in  Harri- 
son's army  having  expired,  1200  men  were  called  out  by  the  go- 
vernor of  Kentucky,  and  despatched  under  general  Green  Clay 
to  supply  their  place.  They  left  Cincinnati,  their  place  of  ren- 

*  General  Harrison,  in  his  official  dispatch,  states,  that  the  surgeon  was  fur- 
nished  with  a  letter  addressed  to  any  British  officer  he  might  meet,  describing 
the  character  in  which  he  went,  and  the  object  for  which  he  was  sent,  an  open 
letter  to  general  Winchester,  and  written  instructions  to  himself,  all  of  which 
he  was  directed  to  show  to  the  first  officer  he  met  with. 


5, 6.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  71 

.ezvous,  in  the  beginning  of  April,  and  arrived  near  Fort  Meigs 
n  the  4th  of  May,  which  they  learnt  was  besieged  by  a  large 
orce  of  British  and  Indians,  under  general  Proctor. 
§  5.  Proctor  had  set  out  for  Fort  Meigs  with  100O  British 
nd  1200  Indians,  about  the  middle  of  April,  with  the  expecta- 
on  of  capturing  it  before  the  arrival  of  Harrison's  reinforce- 
lents  and  supplies,  but,  owing  to  incessant  and  heavy  rains, 
e  was  not  able  to  open  his  batteries  before  the  first  of  May. 
\  brisk  firing  was  kept  up  on  both  sides  until  the  fifth,  when  a 
mall  party  of  general  Clay's  detachment  arrived,  with  informa- 
ion  of  the  rest  being  close  at  hand.  Orders  were  immediate!} 
icspatched  to  Clay,  to  proceed  down  the  river  in  his  boats,  to 
jnd  800  men  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  who  should  immedi- 
tely  attack  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  spike  their  cannon,  and 
ic  remainder  on  the  right  bank,  who  would  be  aided  by  a 
artie  of  the  garrison.  The  plan  \vas  successfully  executed,  the 
annon  were  spiked,  but  unfortunately,  instead  of  returning 
cross  the  river  to  the  fort,  they  pursued  the  flying  enemy  to  the 
roods,  where  they  were  surrounded,  and  the  greatest  portion  tak- 
n  prisoners.  A  great  part  of  the  baggage  was  also  taken  in  the 
>oats  by  the  Indians. 

Notwithstanding  the  unfortunate  issue  of  this  affair,  however, 
Fort  Meigs  was  relieved.  Proctor,  being  deserted  by  the  In- 
lians,  whom  their  chiefs  could  not  prevent  returning  to  their 
nllages,  as  is  their  custom  after  any  battle  of  consequence,  with 
heir  prisoners  and  plunder,  made  a  precipitate  retreat  on  the 
)th  of  May,  having  previously  secured  their  ordnance  on  board 
i  sloop. 

§  6.  No  event  of  consequence  took  place  on  the  New  York' 
rontier  during  the  winter.  The  opposing  armies  being  divided 
>y  a  barrier  of  ice,  not  sufficiently  strong  to  alloxv  of  the  trans- 
)ortation  of  artillery,  peace  was  only  disturbed  by  a  few  petty 
ncursions,  which  each  party  justified  by  the  plea  of  retaliation. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  captain  Forsythe,  the  commanding 
jfficer  at  Ogdensburgh,  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  received  informa- 
;ion  that  several  men  who  had  deserted  from  the  opposite  shore, 
:>n  the  ice,  had  been  taken  on  the  American  side  by  a  party  of 
British,  and  carried  off  and  confined  in  the  jail  at  Brockville. 

In  consequence  of  this  intrusion,  as  it  was  deemed,  Forsythe 
the  same  evening  crossed  over  with  about  200  militia  and  rifle- 
men, for  the  purpose  of  retaking  the  prisoners,  and  capturing 
the  military  stores  at  Brockville.  On  approaching  the  Canada 
shore,  a  flanking  company  was  detached  above,  and  another  be- 
low the  town,  to  secure  all  the  passes,  to  prevent  information 
being  communicated  to  the  country.  Before  the  main  fortv; 


72  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.          [CHAP. 

reached  the  shore  they  were  fired  at  by  the  centinels,  but,  in- 
stead of  returning  it,  they  rushed  through  the  main  street  tc 
the  jail,  which  was  instantly  carried,  the  prisoners  liberated,  anc 
then  the  magazine  was  secured.  The  troops  in  the  town  wei 
completely  surprised.  One  major,  three  captains,  three  lieutei 
ants,  one  surgeon's  mate,  and  forty-two  privates,  together  wit 
their  arms,  besides  130  rifles  and  musquets  captured  by  it 
British  at  Detroit,  and  several  casks  of  powder  and  fixed  at 
munition,  were  secured  and  brought  off.  Perfect  order  was  ob- 
served by  the  officers  and  men,  scrupulous  respect  paid  to  pri- 
vate property,  and  no  injury  was  done  to  any  individual.  Al- 
though a  severe  fire  was  kept  up  from  the  houses  as  the  Ameri- 
cans advanced  to  the  jail,  there  were  none  killed,  and  but  one 
wounded. 

The  following  evening  a  party  of  46  Indians,  headed  by  a 
British  officer,  crossed  over  from  Prescott,  a  village  in  Canada, 
a  mile  and  a  half  above  Ogclensburg,  for  the  purpose  of  captur- 
ing a  picket  guard  of  nine  men,  belonging  to  Forsythe's  compa- 
ny. They  succeeded  in  taking  the  centinel  on  post,  and  then  at- 
tacked the  guard,  but  were  repulsed  by  their  steady  bravery, 
aided  by  their  advantageous  position.  The  succeeding  evening 
15  or  20  American  volunteers  again  crossed,  and  took  a  lieuten- 
ant and  two  men,  together  with  15  or  20  stand  of  arms. 

§  7.'  On  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  February,  the  British 
crossed  over  in  considerable  force,  and  succeeded  in  capturing 
Ogdensburg.  Forsythe,  with  a  force  of  less  than  half  that  of 
the  British,  effected  his  retreat  to  Black  Lake  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner. Considerable  alarm  for  the  safety  of  Sackett's  Harbour 
Was  excited  by  this  event,  and  immediate  measures  were  taken 
for  reinforcing  it.  No  attempts  were  made,  however,  at  fur- 
ther conquest;  the  British  shortly  after  retired  across  the  St. 
Lawrence. 

The  ice  having  disappeared  in  Lake  Ontario  about  the  mid- 
dle of  April,  the  look-out  boat  Growler  sailed  from  Sackett's 
Harbour  on  the  19th  to  reconnoitre  the  lake,  and  immediate 
preparations  were  made  for  an  embarkation  of  troops  for  the 
invasion  of  Canada.  The  troops,  to  the  number  of  1700,  un- 
der the  command  of  general  Dearborn,  were  embarked  by  the 
23d,  but  the  weather  proving  stormy,  the  fleet  did  not  sail  till 
the  25th. 

§  8.  On  the  morning  of  the  27th  they  arrived  off  York,  the 
capital  of  Upper  Canada,  and  the  fleet  having  taken  a  position 
to  the  south  and  westward  of  the  principal  fort,  and  as  near  the 
shore  as  possible,  the  debarkation  of  the  troops  commenced 
about  8,  and  was  completed  about  10  in  the  forenoon.  The 


$  8.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  73 

place  fixed  on  for  landing  was  a  clear  field,  the  scite  of  the  old 
French  fort  Tarento,  but  the  wind  blowing  heavy  from  the  east- 
ward, the  boats  fell  to  leeward,  by  which  they  were  exposed  to 
a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy,  who  had  taken  a  position  in  a 
thick  wood,  near  where  the  troops  were  obliged  to  land.  This 
circumstance  likewise  prevented  the  fleet  from  covering  the 
landing.  The  cool  intrepidity  of  the  officers  and  men,  howev- 
er, overcame  every  obstacle. 

The  riflemen  under  Forsythe  first  landed,  under  a  heavy  fire 
from  the  enemy,  who  had  collected  all  their  force  at  this  point, 
consisting  of  700  regulars  and  militia,  and  100  Indians,  com- 
manded by  general  Sheaffe  in  person.  The  contest  was  sharp 
and  severe  for  about  half  an  hour,  when  about  700  or  80O  of  the 
Americans  having  landed,  commanded  by  general  Pike,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  troops  pushing  for  the  shore,  the  enemy 
retreated  to  their  works,  leaving  a  number  of  killed  and  wound- 
ed on  the  field.  As  soon  as  the  troops  were  landed,  the  schoo- 
ners were  directed  to  take  a  position  near  the  forts,  in  order  that 
the  attack  upon  them  by  the  army  and  navy  might  be  simul- 
taneous. 

Pike,  having  formed  the  troops  on  the  ground  originally  in- 
tended for  their  landing,  advanced  to  the  batteries,  which  now 
opened  their  fire,  which  was  returned  from  the  schooners,  that 
had  beat  up  to  a  position  within  600  yards  of  the  principal  fort. 
The  troops  were  led  in  the  most  gallant  manner  by  general  Pike, 
who  carried  two  redoubts,  and  was  approaching  the  principal 
work,  when  the  enemy,  having  previously  laid  a  train,  blew  up 
his  magazine,  by  which  a  great  number  of  the  troops  were  kil- 
led and  wounded,  and,  among  the  former,  the  ever-to-be-lament- 
ed general  Pike. — When  the  fall  of  Pike  was  made  known  to 
general  Dearborn  he  landed  and  took  the  command  of  the 
troops. 

As  soon  as  the  magazine  was  blown  up  the  British  set  fire  to 
their  naval  stores  and  a  ship  on  the  stocks ;  and  then  the  regulars, 
with  Sheaffe  at  their  head,  made  a  precipitate  retreat  from  the 
town.  By  two  in  the  afternoon  the  American  flag  was  substi- 
tuted for  the  British,  and  by  four  the  troops  were  in  peaceable: 
possession  of  York,  a  capitulation  having  been  agreed  on  with 
the  militia  commanding  officer,  by  which  the  town,  stores,  and 
nearly  300  militia  were  surrendered. 

The  total  American-  loss  in  killed  on  this  occasion  was 
In  battle  14 

By  the  explosion       38 


VOL.  I.  PART  II. 


74  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.  [CHAP.  v. 

Wounded,  in  battle  32 

by  explosion  232 

264 

The  loss  acknowledged  by  the  British  in  their  official  ac- 
count is 

Killed  62 

Wounded  34 

Wounded  and  prisoners         43 

Prisoners  10 

Missing  7 

This  loss  of  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  however,  must 
only  include  the  regulars,  as  300  militia  were  surrendered  in 
the  town. 

The  day  after  the  capture  of  York  was  employed  in  burying 
the  dead.  The  public  buildings,  barracks,  &c.  were  then  des- 
troyed, together  with  the  military  stores  that  could  not  be 
brought  away,  and  by  the  first  of  May  the  town  was  entirely- 
evacuated,  the  militia  prisoners  parolled,  and  the  troops  embar- 
ked ;  but,  owing  to  contrary  winds,  the  fleet  did  not  sail  till  the 
8th.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  they  arrived  at  Four 
Mile  Creek,  below  Fort  Niagara,  where  the  troops  and  public 
property  were  landed,  and  on  the  10th  Chauncey  again  sail- 
ed for  Sackett's  Harbour  for  reinforcements.  The  day  previ- 
ous to  his  departure,  two  schooners,  with  100 picked  men,  sailed 
for  the  head  of  the  lake  to  seize  a  quantity  of  public  stores. 
The  stores  were  found  to  be  guarded  by  about  80  regulars,  who 
were  repulsed,  the  stores  brought  away,  the  public  buildings 
burnt,  and  the  expedition  returned  to  Fort  Niagara  without 
loss. 

§9.  Chauncey  arrived  at  Sackett's  Harbour  on  the  13th  of 
May,  and  having  received  350  troops  on  board,  again  sailed  on 
the  22d,  and  arrived  near  Fort  Niagara  on  the  25th,  where  the 
troops  were  landed.  A  council  was  immediately  held  by  gen- 
eral Dearborn,  for  the  purpose  of  making  arrangements  for  im- 
mediately passing  to  the  opposite  shore.  Next  day  Chauncey 
reconnoitred  the  position  for  landing  the  troops,  and  at  night 
sounded  the  shore,  and  placed  buoys  to  point  out  the  stations 
for  the  small  vessels.  He  then  took  on  board  of  the  Madison, 
Oneida,  and  Lady  of  the  Lake  all  the  heavy  artillery,  and  as 
many  troops  as  could  be  stowed. 

On  the  27th,  at  three  in  the  morning,  the  signal  was  made  for 
the  fleet  to  weigh,  and  before  four  the  remainder  of  the  troops 
were  embarked  on  board  of  boats,  which  were  directed  to  fol- 
low the  fleet.  The  schooners  were  judiciously  placed  in  posi- 


$  9.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  7J 

tions  to  silence  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  cover  the  landing  of 
the  troops,  within  musket  shot  of  the  shore.  In  ten  minutes  af- 
ter they  opened  on  the  batteries,  they  were  completely  silenced 
and  abandoned. 

The  troops  then  advanced  in  three  brigades,  and  landed  near 
a  fort  which  had  been  silenced,  at  Two  Mile  Creek.  Immedi- 
ately on  their  landing,  the  enemy,  who  had  been  concealed  in  a 
ravine,  advanced  in  great  force  to  the  edge  of  the  bank,  in  order 
to  charge  them,  the  schooners,  however,  opened  so  well-di- 
rected and  tremendous  a  fire  'of  grape  and  canister,  that  they 
were  soon  obliged  to  retreat.  The  troops  formed  as  soon 
as  they  landed,  and  immediately  ascended  the  bank,  and  charged 
and  routed  the  enemy  in  every  direction,  the  schooners  still 
keeping  up  a  constant  and  well-directed  fire.  The  British  now 
re-entered  Fort  George,  and  set  fire  to  their  magazines,  after 
which  they  moved  off  rapidly  towards  Queenstown,  and  were 
pursued  by  the  light  troops  for  several  miles.  The  main  body, 
however,  having  been  under  arms  from  one  in  the  morning, 
were  too  much  exhausted  for  further  pursuit.  They  returned 
to  Fort  George,  of  which  they  had  quiet  possession. by  twelve 
o'clock. 

On  this  occasion  we  find  the  first  mention  made  of  captain 
PERRY,  the  hero  of  lake  Erie.  He  volunteered  his  services  to 
commodore  Chauncey,  and  rendered  great  assistance  in  arrang- 
ing and  superintending  the  debarkation  of  the  troops.  He  was 
present  at  every  point  where  he  could  be  useful,  under  showers 
of  musketry,  but  fortunately  escaped  unhurt.  The  next  day 
he  was  despatched  to  Black  Rock,  with  fifty-five  seamen,  to  pre- 
pare and  take  the  command  of  the  squadron  fitting  out  there. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  capturing  Fort  George,  was 
thirty -nine  killed  and  1 1 1  wounded.  The  British  lost  103  kil- 
led, and  278  prisoners,  of  whom  163  were  wounded.  The 
number  of  militia  paroled  by  general  Dearborn  was  507. 

The  day  after  the  capture  of  the  fort,  general  Lewis  marched 
with  Chandler's  and  Winder's  brigades,  and  the  light  artillery, 
dragoons,  and  riflemen,  in  pursuit  of  the  British,  by  the  way  of 
Queenstown.  Information  had  been  received  that  they  had 
made  a  stand  on  the  mountain,  at  a  place  called  the  Beaver  Dam, 
where  they  had  a  depot  of  provisions  and  stores,  and  that  they 
had  been  joined  by  300  regulars  from  Kingston,  and  were  call- 
ing in  the  militia.  Dearborn,  therefore,  was  in  hopes,  that,  con- 
fiding in  the  strength  of  his  position,  the  enemy  would  await  an 
action,  by  which  an  opportunity  would  be  afforded  to  cut  off  his 
retreat.  In  this  expectation,  however,  he  was  disappointed. — 
The  troops  at  Fort  Erie  blew  up  their  magazine,  and  joined  the 


76  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.  [CHAP.  v. 

main  body  at  Beaver  Dam,  who  then  broke  up  and  retreatet 
along  the  mountains  towards  the  head  of  lake  Ontario.  Tht 
same  evening  Fort  Erie  was  taken  possession  of  by  a  party  fror 
the  opposite  shore,  and  Lewis,  finding  that  the  enemy  had  mad* 
their  escape,  returned  to  Fort  George. 

§  10.  Dearborn,  still  in  hopes  of  being  able  to  cut  off  the  re- 
treat of  the  enemy,  on  the  1st  of  June  detached  general  Winder 
with  his  brigade,  and  one  regiment  from  Boyd's  brigade,  alon$ 
the  lake  shore.  On  the  3d  general  Chandler  followed  with  the 
remainder  of  Boyd's  brigade.  The  British  general,  however, 
anticipated  the  blow,  by  attacking  the  American  army  before 
day  on  the  morning  of  the  6th.  Unfortunately,  although  the 
American  loss  was  but  small,  and  the  enemy,  whose  force  was 
very  inferior,  driven  from  the  field,  yet  both  the  generals  Chan- 
dler and  Winder  were  taken  prisoners.  In  this  attack  the  Ame- 
ricans lost  two  generals  and  several  other  officers,  but  a  greater 
number  of  prisoners  were  lost  by  the  enemy. 

Dearborn  received  the  intelligence  of  this  affair  late  in  the 
same  evening,  and  immediately  despatched  general  Lewis  to 
take  the  command  of  the  troops.  He  arrived  and  took  the 
command  in  the  afternoon  of  the  7th.  The  British  likewise 
despatched  a  messenger  to  sir  James  Yeo,  who  was  off  York 
with  the  British  fleet,  with  orders  to  co-operate  in  the  attack  on 
the  Americans.  Lewis  found  the  army  encamped  at  the  Forty 
Mile  creek,  on  a  plain  of  about  a  mile  in  width,  ten  miles  in  the 
rear  of  the  ground  where  it  had  been  attacked,  its  right  flank 
resting  on  the  lake,  and  its  left  on  a  creek  which  skirts  the  base 
of  a  perpendicular  mountain  of  a  considerable  height. 

Lewis  had  scarcely  arrived  at  the  camp  before  the  hostile 
fleet  hove  in  sight.  It  did  not  approach  near  enough  before 
dark,  however,  to  enable  them  to  ascertain  with  certainty  whe- 
ther it  was  Yeo's  or  Chauncey's  squadron.  In  this  state  of  un- 
certainty, the  army  lay  on  their  arms  all  night,  and  at  break  of 
day  struck  their  tents,  when  the  hostile  fleet  was  discovered 
abreast  of  them,  about  a  mile  from  the  shore.  About  6,  it  being 
a  dead  calm,  the  enemy  towed  in  shore  a  large  schooner,  which 
on  her  approach,  opened  her  fire  on  the  boats  which  the  army 
had  employed  for  the  transportation  of  their  baggage  and  camp 
equipage,  which  then  lay  on  the  beach.  As  soon  as  her  object 
was  perceived,  four  pieces  of  artillery  were  sent  down  to  the 
shore,  and  captain  Totten  of  the  engineers  was  ordered  to  con- 
struct a  furnace  for  heating  shot,  which  was  prepared  and  in 
operation  in  less  than  SO  minutes,  and  the  schooner  was  soon 
compelled  to  retire. 


*  11.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  77 

A  party  of  Indians  now  made  their  appearance  on  the  brow 
of  the  mountain  (which  being  perfectly  bald,  exhibited  them  to 
view),  and  commenced  a  fire  on  the  camp.  They  were  quickly 
dislodged,  however,  by  a  small  party  under  the  command  of 
lieutenant  Eldridge.  The  Americans  lost  not  a  man  by  the  at- 
tacks of  the  fleet  and  Indians. 

Sir  James  L.  Yeo  now  sent  on  shore  an  officer  with  a  flag, 
demanding  a  surrender  of  the  army,  it  being  invested  with  sava- 
ges in  its  rear,  a  fleet  in  its  front,  and  a  powerful  army  on  its 
flank.  To  this  demand  general  Lewis  only  answered  that 
"  the  message  was  too  ridiculous  to  merit  a  reply." 

Between  7  and  8  o'clock  the  four  waggons  that  were  with  the 
army  were  loaded  with  the  sick,  and  with  ammunition  ;  the 
camp  equipage  and  baggage  was  put  in  the  boats,  and  700  men 
were  detached  to  proceed  in  them  for  their  protection.  By 
some  irregularity,  however,  the  boats,  induced  probably  by  the 
stillness  of  the  morning,  put  off  before  the  detachment  reached 
the  shore,  and  they  had  not  proceeded  above  three  miles,  when 
a  breeze  sprung  up,  which  enabled  an  armed  schooner  to  over- 
haul them.  Some  of  the  boats,  however,  kept  on  and  escaped  ; 
the  others  were  run  to  the  shore  and  deserted,  twelve  of  which 
were  lost,  principally  loaded  with  baggage.  At  10  o'clock  the 
army  was  put  in  motion,  and  reached  Fort  George  with  the  loss 
only  of  a  few  stragglers,  who  were  picked  up  by  the  militia  and 
Indians. 

Short  after  this  affair  the  American  troops  concentrated  at 
Fort  George,  having  evacuated  Fort  Erie,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  Niagara  frontier. 

§11.  On  the  evening  of  the  23d  of  June,  Dearborn  despatch- 
ed lieutenant-colonel  Bcerstler,  with  570  men,  to  Beaver  Dam, 
a  few  miles  beyond  Queenstown,  to  attack  and  disperse  a  body 
of  the  enemy,  who  had  collected  there  for  the  purpose  of  procur- 
ing provisions,  and  harassing  those  of  the  inhabitants  who  were 
considered  friendly  to  the  United  States.  The  force  of  the 
enemy  was  understood  to  be  about  80  regulars,  150  or  200  mi- 
litia, and  from  50  to  60  Indians. 

About  8  next  morning,  when  within  about  two  miles  of  Bea- 
ver Dam,  Bcerstler  was  attacked  from  an  ambuscade,  but  soon 
drove  the  enemy  some  distance  into  the  woods.  He  then  retir- 
ed into  a  clear  field,  whence  he  immediately  despatched  an  ex- 
press for  a  reinforcement,  stating  that  he  would  maintain  his  po- 
sition till  it  arrived.  Three  hundred  men  were  instantly  march- 
ed to  his  relief.  They  were,  however,  too  late  ;  for,  on  arriv- 
ing at  Queenstown,  they  received  authentic  intelligence  of  the 


rs  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  v. 

surrender  of  the  whole  detachment,  and  accordingly  returned  to 
camp. 

The  British  account  of  this  affair  states  that  the  detachment 
to  which  Bccrstler  surrendered  was  but  small,  the  Indians  being 
the  only  force  actually  engaged  ;  but  that  his  position  was  sur- 
rounded by  woods,  which  he  was  led  to  believe  was  occupied  by 
a  superior  force. 

§12.  While  the  American  army  was  thus  employed  at  Fort 
George,  several  enterprises  were  undertaken  by  the  British. 
On  the  night  of  the  27th  of  May  a  force  of  upwards  of  1000 
men,  under  sir  George  Prevost,  were  embarked  at  Kingston  on 
board  the  British  squadron,  and  in  open  boats,  and  immediately 
sailed  for  Sackett's  Harbour.  Next  morning  they  were  observ- 
ed by  lieutenant  Chauncey,  who  commanded  the  small  naval 
force  remaining  there,  the  principal  part  of  the  American  squad- 
ron being  engaged  at  Fort  George,  and  he  immediately  sailed 
into  the  harbour,  faring  alarm  guns.  The  alarm  being  immedi- 
ately communicated,  guns  were  likewise  fired  from  the  alarm 
posts,  in  order  to  bring  in  the  militia,  and  instant  measures  taken 
to  resist  the  attack. 

No  attempt,  however,  was  made  to  land  on  the  28th,  the  at- 
tention of  the  enemy  being  drawn  off,  at  the  moment  when  all 
was  prepared  for  landing,  by  the  appearance  of  a  fleet  of  Ame- 
rican barges  passing  from  Oswego  for  Sackett's  Harbour.  The 
barges  of  the  enemy  were  immediately  despatched  to  cut  them 
off,  and  succeeded  in  taking  12  ;  the  troops,  however,  had  pre- 
viously succeeded  in  landing  and  gaining  the  woods,  and  came 
into  Sackett's  Harbour  the  same  evening.  The  remaining 
seven  boats  outsailed  the  enemy's  barges,  and  got  safe  into  port. 
It  is  presumed  that  the  landing  was  now  put  off  till  next  morn- 
ing, under  the  expectation  of  cutting  off  more  barges,  as  the 
fleet  hauled  their  wind  and  stood  into  South  Bay,  and  the  arm- 
ed barges  were  despatched,  apparently  in  order  to  waylay  them. 
During  the  night  a  considerable  militia  force  came  in  and  were 
stationed  on  the  water  side,  near  Horse  Island,  on  whichjwas 
placed  a  small  body  of  Albany  volunteers.  The  moment  it 
was  light,  the  enemy's  squadron  were  perceived  in  line  between 
Stony  Point  and  Horse  Island,  and  shortly  after  troops  were 
landed  on  the  latter,  from  thirty-three  large  boats,  under  cover 
of  their  gun-boats. 

General  Brown,  who  commanded  the  post,  had  directed  that 
the  volunteers  should  retreat  across  the  neck  which  joins  Horse 
Island  to  the  main  land,  in  case  of  the  enemy  landing  there, 
which  they  accordingly  did,  and  joined  the  militia  under  his 
command,  amounting  to  between  four  and  five  hundred  men.— 


$  13.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  79 

The  enemy,  having  landed  and  passed  to  the  main  land,  were 
marching  to  the  town,  when  they  received  the  fire  of  the  volun- 
teers and  militia,  which  somewhat  checked  their  progress.  Un- 
fortunately, however,  the  militia,  totally  unacquainted  with  mili- 
tary discipline,  after  giving  the  first  fire,  rose  from  their  cover 
and  fled  to  the  woods.  The  handful  of  volunteers,  thus  losing 
their  support,  were  likewise  forced  to  retreat,  but  being  joined 
by  a  few  regulars  from  the  town,  succeeded  in  rallying  a  portion 
of  the  militia,  and,  by  the  aid  of  the  fire  from  the  fort,  soon 
forced  the  enemy  to  withdraw  to  their  ships.  Unfortunately, 
the  officer  who  was  entrusted  with  the  care  of  the  navy  barracks 
and  store-houses,  who  had  been  instructed  to  fire  them  in  case 
of  the  enemy  proving  victorious,  mistaking  the  flight  of  the  mi- 
litia for  a  complete  repulse,  set  them  on  fire,  and  they  were  to- 
tally consumed. 

The  American  loss  in  this  attack  was  twenty-one  killed  and 
eighty-four  wounded,  of  the  volunteers  and  regulars,  and  twen- 
ty-six missing.  Of  the  militia  there  were  twenty-five  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  Of  the  enemy,  twenty-nine  were  found 
dead  in  the  field,  and  twenty-two  wounded,  and  thirty-five 
were  made  prisoners  ;  in  addition,  many  were  killed  in  the  boats 
while  effecting  their  landing  ;  a  number  were  likewise  carried  off 
the  field  by  the  enemy,  previous  to  the  commencement  of  his 
retreat.  In  the  British  official  account  their  loss  is  stated  as  fol- 
lows, viz. :  Killed  forty-eight,  wounded  195,  wounded  and  mis- 
sing, sixteen. 

Commodore  Chauncey  returned  to  Sackett's  Harbour  on  the 
1st  of  June,  from  Fort  George.  He  was  compelled  to  remain 
in  port  for  near  two  months,  until  the  new  vessel,  the  General 
Pike,  was  ready  for  sea,  as  the  enemy's  fleet  was  now  consider- 
ably superior  in  force. 

§13.  Meanwhile  the  British  lorded  it  over  the  lake.  Ou 
the  16th  of  June  their  fleet  appeared  off  the  village  of  Sodus, 
where  a  quantity  of  provisions  was  deposited.  The  militia  of 
the  neighbourhood  were  instantly  called  to  arms,  and  the  follow- 
ing day  arrived  in  considerable  force.  In  the  mean  while,  the 
enemy  having  disappeared,  the  provisions  were  removed  from 
the  warehouses  on  the  water's  edge  to  a  small  distance  in  the 
edge  of  the  woods,  and  on  the  19th  the  militia  were  discharged, 
excepting  a  small  number  as  a  guard.  Before  evening  of  the 
same  day,  however,  the  fleet  again  appeared.  The  alarm  was 
instantly  given,  and  expresses  sent  after  the  discharged  militia, 
who  immediately  returned,  but  not  in  time  to  save  the  place. — 
The  enemy  having  landed,  and  finding  that  the  greater  part  of 
the  provisions  had  been  removed,  set  fire  to  all  the  valuable 


80  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP,  v, 

buildings  in  the  place,  which  were  consumed,  with  their  con- 
tents. 

The  next  day  the  fleet  appeared  off  Fort  Oswego,  and  made 
several  attempts  to  land  troops,  but  each  time  returned  on  see- 
ing the  American  troops  ready  to  meet  them  on  the  shore. 

§  14.  Another  attempt  was  made  on  Sackett's  Harbour  on 
the  night  of  the  2d  of  July,  by  a  considerable  force  in  open 
boats,  headed  by  sir  James  Yeo.  Their  scheme  ,being  discov- 
ered by  a  deserter,  commodore  Chauncey  as  soon  as  possible 
got  under  way  to  intercept  their  retreat.  The  British,  howev- 
er, discovered  the  desertion,  and  decamped  some  time  before 
the  commodore  could  reach  their  place  of  landing. 

§15.  On  the  morning  of.  the  llth  of  July,  250  British  regu- 
lars crossed  the  Niagara  river,  and  landed  a  little  below  Black 
Rock.  On  moving  towards  that  place,  they  were  discovered 
by  about  200  militia,  who  instantly  fled.  The  enemy  then  set 
fire  to  the  barracks,  block-houses,  &c.  spiked  several  pieces  of 
cannon,  and  took  a  quantity  of  flour  and  salt,  and  four  small 
field  pieces.  While  engaged  in  getting  off  the  property,  they 
were  attacked  by  a  force  of  100  regulars,  130  militia  and  volun- 
teers, and  20  or  30  Indians,  who  had  come  down  from  Buffaloe, 
who  poured  in  upon  them  a  successful  fire,  by  which  a  consid- 
erable number  were  killed,  nine  of  whom  were  left  dead  on  the 
shore,  besides  a  captain  mortally  wounded.  Fifteen  prisoners 
also  were  taken.  They  succeeded,  however,  in  carrying  off  the 
property.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  one  killed  and  three 
wounded,  two  of  whom  afterwards  died. 

§16.  Nor  were  the  British  inactive  upon  Lake  Erie.  After 
their  retreat  from  Fort  Meigs  in  the  beginning  of  May,  several 
threatening  movements  were  made  from  the  lake  at  Fort  Meigs, 
Lower  Sandusky,  Cleveland,  and  Erie.  No  serious  attempt 
was  made,  however,  on  any  of  these  posts,  until  the  1st  of  Au- 
gust, when  a  combined  force  of  the  enemy,  amounting  to  at 
least  500  regulars  and  seven  or  eight  hundred  Indians,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  general  Proctor,  made  its  appear- 
ance before  Lower  Sandusky.  As  soon  as  the  general  had 
made  such  a  disposition  of  his  troops  as  would  cut  off  the  re- 
treat of  the  garrison,  he  sent  colonel  Elliot,  accompanied  by 
major  Chambers,  with  a  flag,  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the 
fort,  stating  that  he  was  anxious  to  spare  the  effusion  of  blood, 
which  he  should  probably  not  have  in  his  power  to  do,  should 
he  be  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  taking  the  place  by  storm. 

The  commander  of  the  fort  was  major  Croghan,  a  youth 
of  21  years  of  age.  His  answer  was,  that  he  was  deter- 
mined to  defend  the  place  to  the  last  extremity,  and  that  no 


$16.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  81 

force,  however  large,  should  induce  him  to  surrender  it.  So 
soon  as  the  flag  returned,  a  brisk  fire  was  opened  upon  the  fort, 
from  the  gun-boats  in  the  river,  and  from  a  five  and  a  half  inch 
howitzer  on  shore,  which  was  kept  up  with  little  intermission 
throughout  the  night. 

At  an  early  hour  the  next  morning,  three  sixes,  which  had 
been  placed  during  the  night  within  250  yards  of  the  pickets, 
began  to  play,  but  with  little  effect.  About  4  in  the  afternoon, 
discovering  that  the  fire  from  all  the  guns  was  concentrated 
against  the  north-western  angle  of  the  fort,  Croghan  became 
confident  that  the  object  was  to  make  a  breach,  and  attempt  to 
storm  the  works  at  that  point.  He  therefore  ordered  out  as 
many  men  as  could  be  emp  oyed  for«the  purpose  of  strengthen- 
ing that  part,  which  was  so  effectually  secured  by  means  of 
bags  of  flour,  sand,  &c.  that  the  picketing  suffered  little  or  no 
injury  ;  notwithstanding  which,  about  50O  of  the  enemy,  having 
formed  in  close  column,  advanced  to  assault  the  works  at  the 
expected  point,  at  the  same  time  making  two  feints  on  other 
parts  of  the  fort.  The  column  which  advanced  against  the 
north-western  angle,  consisting  of  about  350  men,  was  so  com- 
pletely enveloped  in  smoke,  as  not  to  be  discovered  until  it  had 
approached  within  18  or  20  paces  of  the  lines ;  but  the  men  be- 
ing all  at  their  posts  and  ready  to  receive  it,  commenced  so  heavy 
and  galling  a  fire  as  to  throw  the  column  a  little  into  confusion ; 
being  quickly  rallied,  however,  it  advanced  to  the  outer  works, 
and  began  to  leap  into  the  ditch.  At  that  moment  a  fire  of 
grape  was  opened  from  a  six-pounder,  which  had  been  previ- 
ously arranged  so  as  to  rake  in  that  direction,  which,  together 
with  the  musketry,  threw  them  into  such  confusion,  that  they 
were  compelled  to  retire  precipitately  to  the  woods. 

During  the  assault,  which  lasted  about  half  an  hour,!  an  in- 
cessant fire  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy's  artillery,  which  consist- 
ed of  five  sixes  and  a  howitzer,  but  without  effect. 

Before  the  attack  was  ended,  the  soldiers  in  the  garrison  sup- 
plied the  wounded  enemy  in  the  ditch  with  water,  by  throwing 
over  full  canteens. 

The  whole  number  of  men  in  the  garrison  was  not  more 
than  160.  Their  loss  during  the  siege  was  1  killed  and  seven 
wounded  slightly.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  prisoners,  must  have  exceeded  150  ;  one  lieutenant-colonel, 
a  lieutenant,  and  50  rank  and  file  were  found  in  and  about  the 
ditch,  dead  or  wounded.  Those  of  the  remainder  who  were  not 
able  to  escape  were  taken  off  during  the  night  by  the  Indians. 

About  3  in  the  morning  the  enemy  sailed  down  the  river, 
leaving  behind  them  a  boat  containing  clothing  and  considera- 

VOL.    I.   PART  II.  L 


82  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP,  v 

ble  military  stores.     Seventy  stand  of  arms,  and  several  brace 
of  pistols,  were  afterwards  collected  near  the  works. 

A  few  days  after  the  assault,  Proctor  despatched  a  surgeor 
with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  assist  in  the  care  of  the  wounded,  ant 
with  a  request  that  such  of  the  prisoners  as  were  in  a  conditior 
to  be  removed  might  be  permitted  to  return  to  Maiden,  on  hh 
parole  of  honour  that  they  should  not  serve  until  exchanged. 

Harrison,  in  his  reply,  stated,  that  on  his  arrival  at  Fort  San- 
dusky  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  he  found  that  major  Croghan, 
conformably  to  those  principles  which  are  held  sacred  in  the 
American  army,  had  caused  all  the  care  to  be  taken  of  the 
wounded  prisoners  that  his  situation  would  permit ;  that  his 
hospital  surgegn  was  particularly  charged  to  attend  to  them,  and 
he  was  warranted  in  the  belief  that  every  thing  which  surgical 
skill  could  give  was  afforded.  They  have  been  liberally  furn- 
ished too,  he  added,  with  every  article  necessary  in  their  situa- 
tion which  the  hospital  stores  could  supply.  Having  referred 
to  his  government  for  orders  respecting  the  disposition  of  the 
prisoners,  he  could  not  with  propriety  comply  with  the  request 
for  an  immediate  exchange.  But  he  assures  him,  that  as  far 
as  it  depends  upon  him,  the  course  of  treatment  which  has 
been  commenced  towards  them,  whilst  in  his  possession  would 
be  continued. 

It  is  impossible  here  to  avoid  contrasting  the  conduct  of 
Proctor  and  Harrison,  in  two  exactly  parallel  cases,  the  care  of 
the  wounded,  and  treatment  of  the  surgeon  sent  for  their  re- 
lief after  the  battles  of  Frenchtown  and  Sandusky.  In  the 
one  case  the  surgeon  is  treated  with  politeness,  and  only  sent 
back  because  his  aid  is  unnecessary,  and  the  wounded  are  sup- 
plied with  water  by  the  garrison,  even  whilst  the  attack  is  carri- 
ed on.  The  opposite  conduct  need  not  be  repeated  here.  It 
has  made  too  deep  an  impression  to  be  so  soon  effaced. 


a.]  ANNAJ-S  OF  AMERICA.  83 


CHAPTER  VI. 


$  1.  Norfolk  threatened  by  a  British  squadron.  §  2.  Bombardment  of 
Lewistown.  §  3.  Capture  of  the  Dolphin,  &c.  §  4.  Action  between 
the  Fox  and  Adeline  §  5.  Annapolis  and  Baltimore  threatened.  §  6. 
Burning  of  the  villages  of  Havre  de  Grace,  8cc.  §7.  Attack  on  Cra- 
ney  Island.  §  8.  Outrages  at  Hampton.  §  9.  Decatur's  squadron  dri- 
ven into  New  London.  §  10.  Attempt  to  blow  up  the  Ramilies.  §  11. 
Explosion  of  a  torpedo. 

§  1.  ON  the  26th  of  December,  1812,  an  order  in  council  was 
issued  by  the  British  government  declaring  the  Chesapeake  and 
Delaware  Bays  in  a  state  of  blockade,  and  on  the  20th  of  March 
all  the  ports  south  of  Rhode  Island  were  included.  During  the 
winter,  intelligence  had  been  repeatedly  received  by  American 
prisoners  from  Bermuda,  of  the  arrival  of  a  British  squadron  at 
that  place,  well  stored  with  bombs  and  Congreve  rockets,  and 
with  a  considerable  body  of  troops  on  board,  for  the  purpose  of 
destroying  some  of  our  southern  cities.  The  alarm,  then,  that 
was  excited  at  Norfolk  may  be  easily  conceived,  when  intelli- 
gence was  received  of  the  approach  of  this  squadron,  which  on 
the  4th  of  February  was  perceived  in  the  Chesapeake  standing 
towards  Hampton  Roads,  to  the  number  of  two  74's,  three  fri- 
gates, a  brig,  and  a  schooner.  The  frigate  Constellation  had 
come  down  the  bay,  and  anchored  in  Hampton  Roads  the  clay 
before,  and  on  the  arrival  of  the  first  news  of  the  near  approach 
of  the  hostile  squadron,  it  being  then  ebb-tide,  was  fast  aground 
at  Willoughby  spit.  Fortunately,  however,  the  flood  made, 
and  the  ship  was  afloat,  before  the  enemy  hove  in  sight.  She 
was  immediately  brought  up  Elizabeth  river  to  Norfolk,  and 
anchored  between  the  two  forts. 

Every  exertion  was  now  made  for  the  defence  of  the  place, 
by  calling  out  the  militia,  &c. ;  the  recruits  at  the  barracks  were 
brought  down  to  the  fort,  and  the  gun-boats  stationed  in  the 
most  favourable  position  to  resist  the  expected  attack.  No  at- 
tempt, however,  was  made  upon  the  town.  The  squadron  con- 
fined its  operations  to  the  capturing  and  destroying  the  bay  craft, 
and  forming  an  effectual  blockade  of  the  waters  of  the  Chesa- 
peake. 

§  2.  About  the  same  time  a  British  squadron  entered  the 
Delaware  bay,  which  consisted  of  the  Poictiers,  74,  the  frigate 
Belvidera,  and  several  small  vessels,  and  for  some  weeks  were 


84  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  vi. 

employed  in  fixing  buoys,  intercepting  and  capturing  the  out- 
ward and  inward  bound  vessels,  and  burning  the  bay  craft. 
On  the  16th  of  March,  sir  J.  P.  Beresford,  the  commander  of 
the  squadron,  transmitted  a  letter  to  Lewistown,  a  small  fishing 
town  near  the  mouth  of  the  bay,  addressed  to  the  first  magis- 
trate, requesting  him  to  send  twenty  live  bullocks,  with  a  pro- 
portionate quantity  of  vegetables  and  hay,  on  boafd  the  Poic- 
tiers,  for  the  use  of  the  squadron,  which  should  be  immediately 
paid  for  at  the  Philadelphia  prices.  The  request  was  accompa- 
nied with  a  threat,  that,  in  case  of  a  refusal,  he  should  burn  the 
town. 

This  demand  was  positively,  though  politely,  refused,  as  "  a 
compliance  would  be  an  immediate  violation  of  the  laws,  and  an 
eternal  stigma  on  the  nation."  To  which  Beresford  answered, 
"  that  the  demand  he  had  made  was,  in  his  opinion,  neither  un- 
generous, nor  wanting  in  that  magnanimity  which  one  nation 
ought  to  observe  to  another  with  which  it  is  "at  war.  It  is  in 
my  power,"  continues  he,  "  to  destroy  your  town,  and  the  re- 
quest I  have  made  upon  it,  as  the  price  of  its  security,  is  neither 
distressing  nor  unusual.  I  must,  therefore,  persist,  and  what- 
ever sufferings  may  fall  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Lewis,  must  be 
attributed  to  yourselves,  by  not  complying  with  a  request  so 
easily  acquiesced  in." 

Nothing  further  passed  on  the  subject,  till  the  6th  of  April, 
when  thev  renewed  the  demand,  and  fired  several  32  pound  shot 
into  the  town,  previous  to  sending  the  flag  on  shore,  to  show  that 
they  were  serious  in  their  threats.  In  Beresford's  letter  on  this 
occasion,  he  urges  that  no  dishonour  can  be  attached  to  comply- 
ing with  his  demand,  in  consideration  of  his  superior  force. 
"  I  must,  therefore,"  continues  he,  "  consider  your  refusal  to 
supply  the  squadron  as  most  cruel  on  your  part  to  the  inhabitants. 
I  grieve  for  the  distress  the  women  and  children  are  reduced 
to  by  your  conduct,  and  earnestly  desire  they  may  be  in- 
stantly removed."  To  this  letter  merely  a  verbal  reply  was  re- 
turned, that  the  commander  was  a  gallant  man,  and  had  already 
taken  care  of  the  ladies.  On  the  return  of  the  flag,  a  can- 
nonade was  commenced  from  four  launches  with  24  and  18 
pounders  ;  two  sloops,  with  32  pounders  and  a  mortar  ;  a  pilot 
boat,  with  six  pounders  ;  and  a  schooner  with  12  twelve  pound- 
ers, covered  by  the  frigate  Belvidera. 

The  town,  being  seated  on  a  considerable  eminence,  sustain- 
ed little  or  no  injury  ;  the  rockets  passing  over,  and  the  bombs 
falling  short.  The  fire  from  an  eighteen  pounder  on  shore, 
which  was  supplied  by  shot  thrown  by  the  enemy,  silenced  one 
their  most  dangerous  gun-boats.  Above  600  shot  were  fired  at 


$3,4.]          ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  85 

the  place,  a  great  part  of  which  was  afterwards  dug  by  the  boys 
out  of  the  sand,  viz.  40  of  32lb.  96  of  18lb.,  156  of  12's  and 
9's,  with  a  large  quantity  of  6's  and  grape,  besides  shells  and  re- 
mains of  rockets.  Not  a  man  was  killed  on  the  side  of  the 
Americans  during  this  attack. 

On  the  forenoon  of  the  following  day,  a  number  of  small 
boats  approached  the  shore,  apparently  with  the  intention  of 
landing ;  but,  being  gallantly  met  by  the  militia  on  the  beach, 
they  were  recalled  by  a  signal  from  the  squadron. 

§  3.  In  the  Chesapeake,  the  principal  part  of  the  squadron 
began  to  move  up  the  bay  about  the  beginning  of  April.  On 
the  3d  they  anchored  off  the  mouth  of  the  Rappahannock,  for 
the  purpose  of  attacking  the  Dolphin,  a  privateer  schooner  of 
10  guns,  and  three  letters  of  marque  bound  for  France,  which 
had  taken  shelter  in  the  river  on  the  approach  of  the  squadron. 

Their  tenders  and  launches,  to  the  number  of  17,  being 
manned  and  sent  up  the  river,  a  furious  attack  was  made  on  the 
vessels,  which  unfortunately  lay  becalmed.  Two  of  the  letters 
of  marque  were  speedily  taken,  they  making  but  a  slight  resis- 
tance ;  the  third  was  run  ashore,  and  most  of  her  crew  escaped. 
The  Dolphin  bore  the  brunt  of  the  action.  The  whole  force  of 
the  enemy  was  soon  directed  to  her,  and  she  gallantly  sustained 
the  contest  for  two  hours,  when,  at  last,  they  succeeded  in  board- 
ing her.  Even  then,  however,  she  did  not  strike.  The  fight 
continued  for  some  time  on  deck,  until,  overpowered  by  num- 
bers, the  Americans  were  forced  to  submit,  the  enemy  having 
previously  pulled  down  the  colours. 

§  4.  A  few  days  previous  to  this  affair,  a  most  unfortunate 
action  took  place  here  between  the  American  privateer  Fox  and 
the  United  States  schooner  Adeline  and  two  gun-boats.  The 
schooner  and  gun  boats  were  proceeding  down  the  bay,  under 
the  command  of  lieutenant  Sinclair,  and  at  midnight  made  a 
harbour  under  Gwinn's  island,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Rappahan- 
nock. After  having  anchored  in  a  line  across  the  channel,  Sin- 
clair was  hailed  by  the  Fox,  and  each  taking  the  other  to  be  an 
enemy,  and  consequently  refusing  to  send  a  boat  on  board,  Sin- 
clair fired  a  musket  ahead  of  the  privateer,  which  she  instantly 
returned  with  a  broadside. 

The  schooner  and  gun-boats  then  opened  their  fire,  and  in  fif- 
teen minutes  silenced  the  privateer.  Being  hailed,  however,  to 
know  if  she  had  struck,  she  renewed  the  action,  without  an- 
swering, and  in  fifteen  minutes  more  was  again  silenced.  On 
being  a  second  time  hailed,  she  once  more  opened  htr  fire,  which 
she  continued  for  half  an  hour,  and  then  cut  her  cable,  and  es- 
caped up  the  bay.  On  board  the  Fox  the  captain  and  five  men 


85  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  vi. 

were  badly  wounded,  she  had  one  shot  in  her  hull,  and  her  sails 
&c.  were  very  much  cut.  The  damage  on  board  the  schooner, 
which  bore  the  brunt  of  the  action,  was  but  small,  only  one  man 
severely  wounded,  and  the  rigging  a  little  cut. 

§  5.  The  hostile  squadron  continued  to  stand  up  the  bay. — 
On  the  9th  of  April  they  reached  Annapolis,  and  on  the  16th 
appeared  off  the  mouth  of  the  Patapsco,  twelve  or  fourteen 
miles  from  Baltimore.  Both  Annapolis  and  Baltimore  were 
threatened  with  an  attack,  but  nothing  was  attempted,  the  enemy 
carefully  keeping  their  vessels  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  guns 
of  the  forts. 

§  6.  But  though  the  fortified  towns  escaped  the  vengeance 
which  had  so  long  been  threatened,  it  was  not  the  case  with  the 
unprotected  villages,  which  skirt  the  rivers  that  fall  into  the  head 
of  the  bay.  Four  of  these  were  laid  in  ashes  by  admiral  Cock- 
burn,  who  gallantly  led  the  barges  which  ascended  the  rivers  for 
this  purpose.  These  plundering  and  burning  expeditions  will 
long  render  his  name  famous  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Ches- 
apeake bay. 

Having  sufficiently  signalized  their  prowess  by  the  burning  of 
Frenchtown,  Havre-de-Grace*,  Georgetown,  and  Frederick- 
town,  and  the  farm-houses,  mills,  &c.  adjoining,  the  squadron  re- 
turned down  the  bay,  destroying  the  oyster-boats,  wood-shallops, 
and  other  river  craft  in  their  progress,  and  showing  them- 
selves, but  at  a  convenient  distance,  at  every  fortification  near 
the  bay. 

§  7.  The  squadron,  after  returning  down  the  bay,  resumed 
their  station  in  Hampton  Roads,  with  the  view  of  attacking 
Norfolk.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  June,  they  land- 
ed a  large  body  of  troops,  from  the  accounts  of  deserters  about 
2500,  on  the  west  side  of  Elizabeth  river,  and  marched  them 
up  towards  Craney  Island,  the  passage  to  which  from  the 
main  land,  is  fordable  at  low  water.  Forty-five  or  fifty  boats 
full  of  men,  were  then  sent  to  effect  a  landing  on  the  north  side 
of  the  island,  with  whom  the  force  on  the  main  land  was  direct- 
ed to  co-operate.  The  whole  force  on  the  island  at  the  time  of 
the  attack  was  487  riflemen,  infantry,  and  artillery,  and  150  sea- 
men and  marines,  forty-three  of  whom  were  on  the  sick  list. — 
With  this  handful  of  men  was  the  landing  of  the  enemy  suc- 
cessfully opposed,  and  they  were  forced  to  retreat  to  their  ships, 
with  the  loss  of  several  boats  by  the  fire  of  the  artillery. 

*  The  burning  and  plundering  of  Havre-de-Grace  is  perhaps  the  most  signal 
of  Cockburn's  exploits.  The  houses  being  apart,  had  to  be  separately  set  on 
fire  ;  and  the  labour  bestowed  in  injuring  the  church  must  have  been  very  con- 
siderable, every  pane  of  glass  in  the  building  having  been  broken  by  stones  and 
brickbats. 


$  8.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  sr 

§  8.  Foiled  in  their  meditated  attack  on  Norfolk  by  this  re- 
pulse at  the  mouth  of  the  harbour,  the  British  again  turned  their 
attention  to  the  easier  duties  of  laying  waste  unprotected  villa- 
ges, and  that  of  Hampton,  which  lay  nearly  opposite,  naturally 
presented  itself.  Here  they  landed  a  body  of  2500  men,  with 
but  little  opposition,  there  being  only  a  small  detachment  of 
militia  encamped  near  the  town,  who  were  soon  forced  to  retreat 
under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery,  musketry,  and  Congreve  rockets. 
The  British  now  took  possession  of  the  village  ;  and  here  a 
horrid  scene  of  barbarity  ensued,  which  was  characterized  by 
plunder,  devastation,  murder,  and  rape.  The  British  troops 
shortly  after  retreated  to  their  ships,  when  a  correspondence 
took  place  by  means  of  flags  between  general  Taylor,  the  com- 
mandant at  Norfolk,  and  sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  qnarter-master- 
general  of  the  British  forces,  on  the  subject  of  these  exces- 
ses. Sir  Sidney  attempted  to  justify  them  on  the  ground 
of  inhumanity  in  some  of  the  American  troops  on  Craney  isl- 
and, whom  he  charged  with  having  waded  into  the  river,  and 
shot  at  their  unresisting  and  yielding  foe,  who  clung  to  the 
wreck  of  a  boat  which  had  been  sunk  by  the  fire  of  their  guns. 
This  imputation  was  promptly  repelled,  and  a  board  of  officers 
was  immediately  appointed  to  investigate  the  charge.  From 
the  evidence  adduced  it  appeared,  that  in  the  action  at  Craney 
island,  two  of  the  enemy's  boats  in  front  of  their  line  were  sunk 
by  the  fire  of  the  batteries ;  the  soldiers  and  sailors  who  were 
in  those  boats  were  consequently  afloat  and  in  danger  of  drown- 
ing, and  being  in  front  of  the  boats  that  were  uninjured,  guns 
were  necessarily  fired  in  the  direction  of  the  men  in  the  water, 
but  with  no  intention  whatever  to  do  them  further  harm  ;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  orders  were  given  to  prevent  this,  by  ceasing  to 
fire  grape,  and  only  to  fire  round  shot;  it  also  was  substantiated 
that  one  of  the  enemy  who  had  apparently  surrendered,  advan- 
ced towards  the  shore,  about  one  hundred  yards,  when  he  sud- 
denly turned  to  his  right  and  endeavoured  to  make  his  escape 
to  a  body  of  the  enemy  who  had  landed  above  the  island,  and 
who  were  then  in  view  ;  then  and  not  till  then  was  he  fired  upon 
to  bring  him  back,  which  had  the  desired  effect,  and  he  was 
taken  unhurt  to  the  island.  It  further  appeared,  that  the  troops 
on  the  island  exerted  themselves  in  acts  of  hospitality  and 
kindness  to  the  unresisting  and  yielding  foe. 

But  even  if  this  charge  had  been  founded  on  fact,  it  could 
not  have  justified  the  measures  adopted  by  the  British.  The 
facts  should  surely  have  been  first  clearly  ascertained  and  redress 
demanded,  before  any  retaliation  was  resorted  to,  especially  a 
retaliation  so  extravagant  in  its  measure,  applying  not  to  the 


88  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.  .     [CHAP. 

perpetrators  of  the  alleged  offence,  nor  to  their  comrades, 
to  the  unresisting,  innocent,  and  helpless. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  summer  hostile  demonstratior 
were  made  by  the  British  squadron  in  various  points  on  the 
waters  of  the  Chesapeake,  particularly  at  Washington,  Annapo- 
lis, and  Baltimore,  in  which,  it  the  aim  of  the  enemy  was  merely 
to  harass,  they  were  certainly  eminently  successful.  A  part  of 
the  Chesapeake  squadron,  under  admiral  Cockburn,  likewise 
appeared  off  Ocracoke  bar,  North  Carolina,  where  their  bar- 
ges destroyed  two  privateers,  and  landed  a  number  of  men  at 
Portsmouth  and  Ocracoke,  who  committed  a  number  of  wan- 
ton depredations. 

§  9.  The  British  squadron  off  New  York  confined  them- 
selves to  keeping  up  a  strict  blockade.  The  American  frigates 
United  States  and  Macedonian,  and  the  sloop  of  war  Hornet, 
sailed  from  New  York  on  a  cruize  in  the  beginning  of  May. 
Finding,  however,  that  a  much  superior  force  lay  off  the  Hook, 
they  put  back,  and  on  the  25th,  passed  through  Hell-gate,  with 
the  intention  of  putting  to  sea  through  the  sound.  This  inten- 
tion was  frustrated  by  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy  in  that 
quarter,  by  which  they  were  several  times  driven  back,  and  on 
the  first  of  June  they  were  chased  into  New  London  by  two 
74's  and  a  frigate,  which  immediately  anchored  off  that  place, 
and  in  a  few  days  were  joined  by  the  force  that  had  been  block- 
ading off  the  Hook.  As  the  movements  of  the  British  indica- 
ted an  intention  of  attacking  New  London,  prompt  measures 
were  taken  for  its  defence.  Six  hundred  militia  were  called 
out,  and,  to  insure  the  safety  of  his  squadron,  commodore  De- 
catur  landed  a  number  of  his  guns,  which  were  mounted  in  a 
battery,  and  the  vessels,  thus  lightened,  proceeded  up  the  river, 
where  they  were  secure  from  any  attempt  of  the  larger  vessels 
of  the  enemy. 

New  London  is  situated  on  the  river  Thames,  about  7  miles 
from  Long  Island  sound,  and  can  be  approached  by  ships  of 
any  draught  of  water.  The  channel,  however,  is  narrow,  and 
completely  commanded  by  the  surrounding  heights,  which  were 
so  strongly  fortified,  as  to  deter  the  squadron  from  any  hostile 
attempt.  They  contented  themselves,  therefore,  with  keeping 
up  a  blockade,  which  still  exists,  and  making  a  few  predatory 
incursions  on  Long  Island  and  the  neighbouring  continent. 

An  act  was  passed  by  congress  in  the  winter  of  1812-13,  to 
encourage  the  destruction  of  the  enemy's  blockading  vessels,  by 
a  bounty  of  half  the  value  of  the  vessel  destroyed,  if  effected  by 
any  other  means  than  by  the  armed  or  commissioned  vessels  of 
the  United  States,  in  consequence  of  which  several  abortive  at- 


^  10.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  §         89 

:empts  were  made.  The  two  most  remarkable  were  those 
igainst  the  Ramilies,  off  New  London,  and  against  the  Plan- 
;agenet,  off  Cape  Henry,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake  bay. 

§10.  The  attempt  on  the  Ramilies  was  made  on  the  25th  of 
funs.  The  schooner  Eagle  was  loaded  at  New  York  with  a 
lumber  of  flour  barrels  filled  with  gunpowder,  in  one  of  which 
vas  fixed  a  gun-lock,  with  a  string  to  the  trigger  made  fast  to 
he  bottom  of  the  vessel.  Over  these  were  placed  a  few  bar- 
•els  of  damaged  flour.  Thus  prepared,  she  threw  herself  in 
he  way  of  the  boats  of  the  blockading  squadron  off  New  Lon- 
lon,  and  on  their  coming  up  to  take  possession  of  her,  the  crew 
ook  to  their  boat,  and  made  their  escape.  It  was  expected 
hat  the  schooner  would  be  taken  along-side  of  the  Ramilies  to 
mload ;  but  the  wind  and  tide  being  against  them,  and  night 
:oming  on,  it  was  determined  to  unload  as  much  of  the  flour  in 
he  boats  as  could  conveniently  be  done.  Whrm  they  came  to 
he  barrel  of  powder  in  which  the  gun-lock  was  plsiied,  and 
looked  the  tackle  to  hoist  it  on  deck,  it  sprung  the  trigger,  and 
)lew  up  the  schooner  and  all  on  board  and  around  her,  and  in  a 
"ew  seconds  not  a  vestige  of  them  was  to  be  seen. 

The  attempt  on  the  Plantagenet  was  made  in  the  month  of 
fuly,  by  means  of  a  torpedo.  On  the  night  of  the  18th,  Mr. 
Mix,  of  the  United  States  navy,  accompanied  by  two  persons 
vho  volunteered  for  the  purpose,  proceeded  from  Norfolk  down 
o  the  Plantagenet,  in  a  large  open  boat,  and  from  previous  ob- 
iervations  found  no  difficulty  in  ascertaining  her  position. 
When  Mix  had  got  to  within  40  fathom  of  her,  he  dropped  the 
orpedo  over,  in  the  very  instant  of  doing  which  he  was  hailed 
>y  one  of  the  enemy's  guard-boats.  The  machine  was  speedily 
aken  into  the  boat  again,  and  he  made  his  way  off  in  safety. 
Dn  the  night  of  the  1 9th  he  made  another  attempt,  and  was 
igain  discovered  ere  he  could  accomplish  his  purpose.  On 
he  night  of  the  20th  he  succeeded  in  getting  within  15  yards  of 
he  ship's  bow,  and  directly  under  her  jib-boom.  There  he 
xmtinued  making  his  preparations  for  15  minutes,  when  a  cen- 
inel  from  the  forecastle  hailed  "  boat  ahoy !"  and  he  had  once 
nore  to  decamp.  The  centinel  not  being  answered,  fired  his 
nusket,  which  was  followed  by  a  rapid  discharge  of  small  arms. 
Blue  lights  were  made  to  find  out  the  boat,  but  failed ;  they 
;hen  threw  rockets  in  different  directions,  which  illuminated  the 
»vater  for  a  considerable  width  as  far  as  they  were  thrown,  and 
mcceeded  in  discovering  the  position  of  the  nocturnal  visitor ; 
ivhen  the  ship  commenced  a  rapid  fire  of  heavy  guns,  slipped 
ler  cables,  and  made  some  sail,  while  her  boats  were  despatch- 
id  in  pursuit. — The  daring  intruders,  however,  escape'-,  un- 

VOL  I.  PART.  II.  M 


90  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP.  vi. 

hurt. — The  visit  was  repeated  on  the  nights  of  the  21st,  22d, 
and  23d,  without  success,  as  the  ship,  having  taken  the  alarm, 
changed  her  position  every  night. — On  the  night  of  the  24th, 
however,  Mr.  Mix  succeeded  in  finding  her  out,  and  havin 
taken  his  position  within  10O  yards  distance,  in  a  direction  with 
her  larboard  bow,  he  dropped  the  fatal  machine  into  the  water 
just  as  the  centinel  was  crying  all's  well.  It  was  swept  al^ 
with  the  tide,  and  would  have  completely  effected  its  errand  but 
for  a  cause  not  proper  to  be  named  here,  but  which  may  be  easi- 
ly guarded  against  in  future  experiments  :  it  exploded  a  few  se- 
conds too  soon.  The  scene  was  awfully  sublime.  It  was  like 
the  concussion  of  an  earthquake,  attended  with  a  sound  louder 
and  more  terrific  than  the  heaviest  peal  of  thunder.  A  pyramid 
of  water  50  feet  in  circumference  was  thrown  up  to  the  height 
of  30  or  4O  feet ;  its  appearance  was  a  vivid  red,  tinged  at  the 
sides  with  a  beautiful  purple.  On  ascending  to  its  greatest 
height,  it'burst  at  the  top  with  a  tremendous  explosion,  and  fell 
in  torrents  on  the  deck  of  the  ship,  which  rolled  into  the  yawn- 
ing chasm  below,  and  had  nearly  upset. — Impervious  darkness 
again  prevailed.  The  light  occasioned  by  the  explosion,  though 
fleeting,  enabled  Mr.  Mix  and  his  companions  to  discover  that 
the  forechannel  of  the  ship  was  blown  off,  and  a  boat  which  lay- 
alongside  with  several  men  in  her,  was  thrown  up  in  the  dread- 
ful convulsion  of  the  waters.  Terrible,  indeed,  must  have  been 
the  panic  of  the  ship's  crew,  from  the  noise  and  confusion  which 
appeared  to  our  adventurers  to  prevail  on  board ;  and  they  are 
certain  that  nearly  the  whole  ship's  crew  hastily  betook  them- 
selves to  the  boats. 


ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  91 


CHAPTER  VII. 


>uises  on  lake  Erie.  §  2.  Capture  of  the  British  squadron.  §  3 . 
Evacuation  of  Maiden  and  Detroit.  §  4.  Capture  of  the  British  army. 
§  5.  Moderation  of  the  conquerors.  $6.  Expedition  to  the  Peoria 
lake.  §  7.  Inactivity  of  the  army  at  Fort  George.  §  8.  Chauncey's 
cruises  on  lake  Ontario.  §  9.  Engagement  with  the  Royal  George 
under  Kingston  batteries.  §  10.  Engagement  with  Yeo's  squadron. 
§  11.  Yeo  chased  round  the  lake.  §  12.  Chauncey's  second  engage- 
ment with  Yeo.  §  13.  Capture  of  the  British  transports. 

§  1.  MEANWHILE  the  utmost  exertions  were  used  by  captain 
Perry,  to  increase  the  naval  armament  on  lake  Erie.  Two 
twenty  gun  brigs  were  launched  at  Erie,  the  American  port  on 
the  lake,  about  the  middle  of  June,  and  shortly  after  Perry  ar- 
rived there  from  Black  Rock  with  the  Caledonia,  and  the  small 
schooners.  The  brigs  being  now  equipped  and  manned,  Perry, 
on  the  4th  of  August,  sailed  as  commodore  of  the  squadron,  and 
succeeded  in  getting  them  over  the  bar  at  the  mouth  of  the  har- 
bour, in  the  face  of  ;.he  British  squadron,  who  fortunately  made 
no  attack,  which  might  have  been  attended  with  serious  conse- 
quences, as  the  water  on  the  bar  being  but  five  feet  deep,  the 
large  vessels  had  to  be  buoyed  over.  The  following  day  Perry 
sailed  in  quest  of  the  enemy,  but  returned  on  the  8th  without 
meeting  him.  He  was  again  about  to  sail  on  the  same  day, 
when  he  received  intelligence  of  captain  Elliot's  arrival  at  Cata- 
raugus  with  a  reinforcement  of  sailors,  on  which  the  cruize 
was  delayed,  and  a  vessel  immediately  despatched  to  bring 
them  on. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  reinforcement,  Perry  again  sailed  on 
the  12th,  and  on  the  15th  arrived  at  Sandusky  bay,  where  the 
army  under  general  Harrison  lay  encamped.  Thence  he  cruis- 
ed off  Maiden,  where  the  British  squadron  were  anchored  under 
the  guns  of  the  fort.  The  appearance  of  the  American  squad- 
ron is  said  to  have  created  great  alarm  on  shore  ;  the  women 
and  children  ran  shrieking  about  the  place,  expecting  an  imme- 
diate attack.  The  enemy,  however,  not  being  prepared  or  dis- 
posed to  give- battle,  though  strongly  urged  thereto  by  the  In- 
dians, Perry  returned  to  Sandusky. 

$  2.  At  sunrise  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  September,  the 
squadron  of  the  enemy  was  discovered  from  Put-in-Bay,  where 


92  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.       [CHAP,  vii 

Perry  lay  at  anchor  with  the  squadron  under  his  commanc 
He  immediately  got  under  weigh  and  stood  for  him  with  a  ligV 
wind  at  south-west.  At  10  o'clock  the  wind  hauled  to  the 
south-east,  which  brought  the  American  squadron  to  windward, 
^on  which  Perry  hoisted  his  union  jack,  having  for  a  motto  tht 
dying  words  of  captain  Lawrence,  "  Don't  give  up  the  ship,' 
which  was  received  with  repeated  cheerings  by  the  officers  anc 
crews.  The  line  was  now  formed,  and  they  bore  up  for 
the  enemy,  but,  owing  to  the  lightness  of  the  wind,  did  nc 
approach  within  long  shot  until  15  minutes  before  12,  when  the 
enemy  commenced  firing  on  the  Lawrence,  the  commodore's 
ship,  which  was  considerably  ahead  of  the  others.  The  firing 
was  received  for  ten  minutes  before  it  was  returned,  an  advan- 
tage which  the  enemy  derived  from  the  superior  length  of  their 
guns,  and  the  lightness  of  the  wind,  which  allowed  Perry  to  ap- 
proach them  but  slowly.  Without  waiting  for  his  other  ves- 
sels, however,  Perry  gallantly  kept  on  his  course,  receiving  the 
whole  fire  of  the  enemy,  until,  gaining  a  nearer  position,  he  open- 
ed his  fire. 

Finding  the  fire  of  the  enemy  on  the  Lawrence  very  destruc- 
tive, from  the  length  of  their  guns,  and  its  being  mostly  direct- 
ed at  that  vessel,  Perry  again  made  sail,  and  directed  the  other 
vessels  to  follow,  for  the  purpose  of  closing  with  the  enemy. 
Every  brace  and  bow  line,  however,  being  soon  shot  away,  the 
Lawrence  became  unmanageable,  and  in  this  situation  sustained 
the  fire  of  the  British  squadron  for  two  hours  within  cannister 
distance,  until  every  gun  was  rendered  useless,  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  crew  either  killed  or  wounded. 

At  this  critical  moment,  when  the  enemy  must  have  counted 
the  victory  certain,  Perry  formed  the  bold  resolution  of  shifting 
his  flag.  The  wind  fortunately  sprung  up,  which  enabled  cap- 
tain Elliot  to  bring  his  vessel,  the  Niagara,  into  close  action,  and 
Perry  immediately  went  on  board  of  her,  under  the  broadsides 
and  discharges  of  small  arms  of  the  enemy,  two  of  whose  vessels 
were  within  musket  shot,  and  a  third  one  nearer.  As  soon  as 
Perry  got  on  board,  captain  Elliot,  anticipating  his  wish,  volun- 
teered to  bring  the  schooners,  which  had  been  kept  astern  by  the 
lightness  of  the  wind,  into  close  action. 

At  this  moment  the  commodore,  to  his  unspeakable  pain,  saw 
the  flag  of  the  Lawrence  pulled  down.  The  event  was,  however, 
unavoidable.  All  her  guns  were  dismounted,  and  scarcely  a 
man  on  board  unhurt.  In  this  situation  to  have  continued  to 
make  a  show  of  resistance,  would  have  been  a  wanton  sacrifice 
of  the  remains  of  her  brave  crew.  The  enemy,  however,  was 


$2.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  93 

not  able  to  take  possession  of  her,  and  subsequent  circumstances 
soon  permitted  her  flag  again  to  be  hoisted*. 

At  45  minutes  past  two  the  signal  was  made  for  close  action, 
and  the  Niagara  being  very  little  injured,  Perry  determined  to 
break  the  enemy's  line.  He  accordingly  bore  up,  and  passing 
ahead  of  their  two  ships  and  a  brig,  gave  them  a  raking  fire  from 
his  starboard  guns,  and  from  the  larboard  side  to  a  large  schoon- 
er and  sloop,  at  half  pistol-shot  distance.  The  smaller  vessels 
now  got  within  grape  and  -cannister  distance  by  the  aid  of  their 
sweeps,  and  so  well  directed  a  fire  was  kept  up,  that  the  whole 
British  squadron,  consisting  of  two  ships,  two  brigs,  a  schooner, 
and  a  sloop,  was  forced  to  surrender,  the  schooner  and  sloop 
making  a  vain  attempt  to  escape. 

This  engagement  lasted  about  three  hours,  and  never  was 
victory  more  decisive  and  complete.  The  captured  squadron 
had  more  numerous  crews,  and  exceeded  the  American  squad- 
ron both  in  number  of  guns  and  weight  of  metal.  The  prisoners 
taken  were  more  in  number  than  their  conquerors. 

The  loss  on  both  sides  was  very  severe.  That  of  the  Ame- 
ricans was  principally  on  board  the  Lawrence,  where  few  indeed 
escaped  unhurt ;  among  those  few  were  the  commodore  and  his 
brother,  a  midshipman  on  board  the  same  vessel.  The  number 
of  the  enemy's  killed  and  wounded  was  not  ascertained.  It 
must,  however,  have  been  very  great,  their  vessels  being  literal- 
ly cut  to  pieces.  Commodore  Barclay,  the  commander  of  the 
British  squadron  was  twice  carried  below  on  account  of  his 
wounds.  He  had  seen  much  service,  having  been  desperately 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Trafalgar,  and  afterwards  losing  an 
arm  in  another  engagement  with  the  French.  Two  Indian 
chiefs  had  been  stationed  in  the  tops  of  the  Detroit,  the  British 
commodore's  ship,  to  shoot  down  the  American  officers  ;  but 
when  the  action  became  warm,  so  panic  struck  were  they  with 
the  terrors  of  the  scene,  and  the  strange  perils  that  surrounded 
them,  that  they  fled  precipitately  to  the  hold  of  the  ship,  where 
they  were  found  after  the  battle  in  a  state  of  utter  consternation. 
The  bodies  of  several  other  Indians  are  said  to  have  been  found 
next  day  on  the  shore  of  the  lake,  supposed  to  have  been  killed 
during  the  engagement,  and  thrown  overboard. 

Great  as  had  been  the  public  rejoicings  on  the  former  victo- 
ries of  the  American  navy,  they  were  little  to  what  took  place  on 

*  Some  of  our  wiseacre  fault-finders  have  had  the  folly  to  represent  the  re- 
hoisting  of  the  flag  of  the  Lawrence  as  an  unjustifiable  act,  forgetful  that  it 
could  not  be  for  the  purpose  of  joining  in  the  action,  as  not  a  single  gun  remain- 
ed mounted.  The  circumstances  which  enabled  her  to  hoist  her  flag  were  un- 
doubtedly the  capture  of  the  whole  of  the  hostile  fleet. 


94  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.       [CHAP.  vn. 

this  occasion.  The  triumph  was  so  complete,  and  the  conse- 
quences certain  to  result  from  it  so  important,  that  it  could  not 
fail  to  excite  the  most  unbounded  joy  in  every  bosom,  which 
spontaneously  expressed  itself  every  where  by  illuminations  and 
other  public  rejoicings,  in  which  all  parties,  forgetful  of  their 
political  feuds,  vied  with  each  other  in  paying  honours  to  the 
young  hero  and  his  noble  compatriots. 

In  this  action  commodore  Perry  showed  himself  to  be  a  true 
American  tar,  not  only  by  his  presence  of  mind  and  dauntless 
valour  in  the  hour  of  danger,  but  by  his  modesty,  gallantry,  and 
humanity  amidst  the  triumphs  of  victory.  The  utmost  care  was 
taken  not  only  of  the  sick  and  wounded  of  his  own  squadron, 
but  of  that  of  the  conquered  ;  and  commodore  Barclay  declared, 
that  "  the  conduct  of  Perry  towards  the  captive  officers  and 
men  was  sufficient,  of  itself,  to  immortalize  him." 

§  3.  As  soon  as  the  prisoners  and  wounded  were  landed,  the 
fleet  was  employed  in  concentrating  general  Harrison's  army, 
by  transporting  them  from  Portage  river  and  Fort  Meigs  to 
Put-in- Bay.  This  duty  was  completed  about  the  20th  of  Sep- 
tember, and  on  the  22d  about  1200  of  the  troops  were  landed  by 
Perry  on  a  small  island  about  four  leagues  from  Maiden.  On 
the  following  day  they  were  again  embarked,  and  landed  in  the 
afternoon  a  small  distance  below  Maiden,  and  in  an  hour  after 
Harrison  took  possession  of  the  town  of  Amherstburg,  without 
opposition,  general  Proctor  having  previously  burnt  Fort  Mai- 
den, the  navy-yard,  barracks,  and  public  store-houses,  and  then 
retreated  to  Sandwich.  Being  followed  by  Harrison,  he  re- 
treated to  a  strong  position  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river 
Thames,  near  Moravian  Town,  about  80  miles  from  Detroit, 
leaving  the  Michigan  territory  in  the  possession  of  the  Ameri- 
cans. 

§i  4.  On  the  2d  of  October  general  Harrison  left  Sandwich  in 
pursuit  of  Proctor,  with  about  140  regulars,  colonel  Johnson's 
mounted  regiment,  and  the  Kentucky  volunteers  under  the  vene- 
rable governor  Shelby,  amounting,  in  the  whole,  to  near  3500 
men.  Harrison  was  accompanied  by  commodore  Perry,  who 
volunteered  as  his  aid-de-camp. 

The  army  reached  the  river  Thames,  which  falls  into  lake  St. 
Glair,  twenty-five  miles  above  Detroit,  the  same  evening,  and 
next  morning  crossed  by  a  bridge,  which  Proctor  had  neglected 
to  destroy.  Harrison  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  mounted 
regiment  and  pushed  forward,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  save  the 
bridges  over  three  branches  of  the  Thames,  which  ran  between 
him  and  the  British  army.  At  the  first  of  these  they  captured  a 
lieutenant  of  dragoons  and  eleven  privates,  who  had  been  des- 
patched by  Proctor  to  destroy  it ;  and  the  second  having  been 


ANNALS  OF  AMERICA. 

but  imperfectly  destroyed,  was  soon  repaired,  and  the  army 
passed  over  and  encamped,  on  the  evening  of  the  3d  of  Octo- 
ber. 

The  baggage  had  thus  far  been  brought  in  boats,  accompanied 
by  gun-boats,  to  protect  it,  and  if  necessary  to  cover  the  passage 
of  the  army  across  the  rivers ;  but  the  river  above  being  narrow, 
with  high  woody  banks,  it  became  necessary  to  leave  the  bag- 
gage under  a  guard,  and  to  trust  to  the  bravery  of  the  troops  to 
effect  a  passage  across  the  remaining  stream.  Next  morning, 
about  eight  miles  above  their  encampment,  the  army  arrived  at 
the  third  unfordable  branch  of  the  Thames,  where  they  found 
that  the  bridge  over  its  mouth,  as  well  as  one  a  mile  above,  had 
been  taken  up  by  the  Indians.  Here  several  hundred  of  the 
Indians  attempted  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  troops,  but  the 
fire  from  two  six-pounders  soon  drove  them  off,  and  in  about 
two  hours  the  bridge  was  repaired  and  the  troops  crossed,  just 
in  time  to  extinguish  a  house  that  had  been  set  on  fire  contain- 
ing a  considerable  number  of  muskets,  which  were  fortunately 
saved.  At  the  first  farm  above  the  bridge  was  found  one  of 
the  enemy's  vessels  on  fire,  and  here  intelligence  was  received 
that  they  were  but  a  few  miles  ahead. 

The  army  halted  for  the  night  about  four  miles  above  the 
bridge,  where  they  found  two  other  vessels  and  a  large  distillery 
filled  with  ordnance  and  other  valuable  stores  to  an  immense 
amount,  in  flames.  It  was  impossible  to  extinguish  the  fire, 
but  two  mounted  twenty-four  pounders  were  taken,  and  a  large 
quantity  of  ball  and  shells  of  various  sizes.  Early  on  the 
morning  of  the  5th  the  troops  were  again  put  in  motion,  and  in 
the  afternoon  the  officer  commanding  the  advance  sent  to  inform 
general  Harrison  that  his  progress  was  stopped  by  the  enemy, 
who  were  formed  across  the  line  of  march. 

Between  the  two  armies,  the  road  passed  through  an  unclear- 
ed beech  forest,  pretty  clear  of  underwood,  near  the  banks  of 
river,  parallel  to  which,  at  the  distance  of  two  or  three  hundred 
yards,  extended  a  swamp  several  miles  in  length.  Across  this 
strip  of  land  the  British  were  drawn  up,  their  left  resting  on  the 
river,  supported  by  artillery,  their  right  on  the  swamp,  covered 
by  the  Indians. 

The  American  troops  were  now  formed  in  order  of  battle. 
General  Trotter's  brigade  formed  the  front  line,  his  right  upon 
the  road,  and  his  left  upon  the  swamp,  with  general  Desha's  divis- 
ion, consisting  of  two  brigades,  formed  enpotence*,  upon  his  left. 

*  Troops  are  ranged  en  fiotence  by  breaking  a  straight  line,  and  throwing  a 
certain  proportion  of  it  either  forward  or  backward,  from  the  right  or  left,  ac- 
cording to  circumstances,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  that  line. — Duans'a  Mili- 
tary Dictionary, 


%  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  vn. 

General  King's  brigade  formed  a  second  line,  150  yards  in  the 
rear  of  Trotter's ;  and  Chiles's  brigade  a  corps  of  reserve  in  the 
rear.  Trotter's,  King's,  and  Chiles's  brigades  formed  the 
command  of  major-general  Henry.  Each  brigade  averaged 
nearly  50O  men.  The  crotchet  formed  by  Desha's  division  was 
occupied  by  Shelby,  the  governor  of  Kentucky,  a  veteran  of 
sixty-six  years  of  age,  who  had  distinguished  himself  in  the 
revolutionary  war  at  King's  Mountain.  The  regular  troops, 
who  now  amounted  only  to  120  men,  occupied  in  columns  of  jsec- 
tions  of  four  the  small  space  between  the  road  and  the  river,  for  the 
purpose  of  seizing  the  enemy's  artillery,  and  ten  or  twelve  friendly 
Indians  were  directed  to  move  under  the  bank.  Harrison  had  di- 
rected Johnson's  mounted  infantry  to  form  in  two  lines  opposite  to 
the  enemy,  and,  when  the  infantry  advanced,  to  take  ground  to  the 
left,  and,  forming  upon  that  flank,  to  endeavour  to  turn  the  right 
of  the  Indians.  It  was  perceived,  however,  that  it  would  be  im- 
practicable for  them  to  do  any  thing  on  horseback  in  that  quarter, 
owing  to  the  thickness  of  the  woods  and  swampiness  of  the  ground. 
Ajneasure  altogether  novel  was  therefore  determined  on,  which 
was  crowned  with  the  most  signal  success. — The  American 
backwoodsmen  ride  better  in  the  woods  than  any  other  peo- 
ple. A  musket  or  rifle  is  no  impediment  to  them,  being  ac- 
customed to  carry  them  on  horseback  from  their  earliest  youth. 
A  charge  was  determined  on,  and  accordingly  the  regiment  was 
drawn  up  in  close  column,  with  its  right  at  the  distance  of  fifty 
yards  from  the  road,  that  it  might  in  some  measure  be  protected 
by  the  trees  from  the  artillery,  and  the  left  upon  the  swamp. 

The  army  moved  on  in  this  order  but  a  short  distance,  when 
the  mounted  men  received  the  fire  of  the  British  line,  and  were 
instantly  ordered  to  charge.  The  horses  in  the  front  of  the  co- 
lumn recoiled  from  the  fire  ;  but  on  receiving  a  second  fire  the 
column  got  into  motion,  and  immediately  at  full  speed  broke 
through  the  enemy  with  irresistible  force.  In  one  minute  the 
contest  was  over  :n  front.  The  British  officers,  seeing  no  hope 
of  reducing  their  disordered  ranks  to  order,  the  mounted  infant- 
ry wheeling  upon  them,  and  pouring  in  a  destructive  fire,  im- 
mediately surrendered.  Only  three  of  the  Americans  were 
wounded  in  this  charge. 

Upon  the  American  left,  however,  the  contest  with  the  In- 
dians was  more  severe.  Colonel  Johnson,  who  commanded  on 
that  flank  of  his  regiment,  received  a  most  galling  fire  from  them, 
which  was  returned  with  great  effect.  The  Indians  still  further 
to  the  left  advanced  and  fell  in  with  the  front  line  of  infantry, 
near  its  junction  with  the  division  en  potence,  and  for  a  moment 
made,  an  impression  upon  it.  Governor  Shelby,  however,  who, 


ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  97 

as  already  stated,  was  stationed  near  this  point,  brought  up  a  re- 
giment to  its  support.  The  enemy  now  received  a  severe  fire 
in  front,  and  a  part  of  the  mounted  men  having  gained  their 
rear,  they  immediately  retreated  with  precipitation. 

§  5.  The  moment  had  now  arrived  which  was  to  prove  whe- 
ther the  stigma  which  had  been  thrown  on  our  Kentucky  breth- 
ren was  founded  on  truth  or  falsehood  ;  when  it  was  to  be  seen 
whether  they  were  "  a  ferocious  and  mortal  foe  using  the  same 
mode  of  warfare*"  with  the  allies  of  Britain.  The  troops  who 
had  now  completely  in  their  power  the  army  under  whose  eyes 
had  been  acted  the  tragedy  of  the  river  Raisin,  and  that  which 
was  acted  on  the  Miami  after  the  defeat  of  colonel  Dudley,  were 
almost  exclusively  composed  of  Kentuckians,  of  men  who  had 
lost  their  brothers  or  friends  in  those  shocking  scenes.  Nor 
were'even  the  instruments  of  vengeance  wanting.  They  were 
accompanied  by  the  savages,  that  had  perpetrated  those  deeds, 
who  had  just  been  suing  for  mercy,  and  would  gladly  have 
shown  their  claims  to  it,  by  re-acting  upon  the  Thames  the 
bloody  scenes  of  the  river  Raisin.  But  how  did  they  avail 
themselves  of  the  opportunity  which  now  presented  ?  Did  they 
turn  the  tide  of  horrible  warfare  which  had  deluged  their  bor- 
ders in  the  blood  of  wounded  prisoners,  and  of  helpless  age  and 
infancy,  upon  the  heads  of  its  abettors  ?  No  :  to  their  honour 
and  to  the  honour  of  their  country  be  it  spoken,  they  did  not. 
The  moment  they  were  in  their  power  all  injuries  were  magnan- 
imously forgotten,  and  the  prisoners  received  the  most  honoura- 
able  and  delicate  treatment  from  the  hands  of  those  whom  they 
had  stigmatised  as  savages,  the  employment  of  whom  justified 
the  use  of  the  Indians. 

Of  the  British  troops,  12  were  killed  and  22  wounded  in  this 
action,  and  six  hundred  and  one  regulars  were  taken  prisoners. 
General  Proctor  escaped  by  the  fleetness.  of  his  horses,  escorted 
by  4O  dragoons  and  a  number  of  .mounted  Indians.  The  In- 
dians suffered  the  greatest  loss.  Thirty-three  were  found  dead 
on  the  ground,  besides  numbers  who  were  killed  in  the  retreat. 
On  the  day  of  the  action  six  pieces  of  brass  artillery  were  taken, 
and  two  twenty-four  pounders  the.  day  before.  Several  others 
were  discovered  in  the  river,  which  were  expected  to  be  saved. 
Of  the  brass  pieces,  three  were  ti'ophies  of  the  revolutionary 
war,  that  were  taken  at  Saratoga  and  York,  and  surrendered  bv 
general  Hull.  The  number  of  small  arms  captured  by  the 
Americans,  or  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  must  have  exceeded 

*  General  Brock's  proclamation,  for  which  see  page  33  of  Official  Docu- 
ments 

VOL.  I.  PART  II.  N 


98  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.       [CHAP.  vn. 

5000  ;  most  of  them  had  been  taken  by  the  British  at  Detroit, 
the  river  Raisin,  and  the  Miami.  The  loss  of"  the  Americans 
was  seven  killed  and  twenty-two  wounded,  five  of  whom  have 
since  died. 

The  American  troops  certainly  deserved  great  praise  for 
their  conduct  in  this  action ;  for,  although  they  considerably 
outnumbered  the  British,  it  must  be  recollected  that  they  were 
only  militia,  and  that  the  British  had  chosen  a  position  thai 
effectually  secured  their  flanks,  and  which  it  was  impossible  foi 
the  Americans  to  turn,  or  to  present  a  line  more  extended  than 
that  of  the  enemy. 

As  soon  as  Harrison  took  possession  of  Amhertsburg  and 
Sandwich,  and  re-occupied  the  territory  of  Michigan,  several  of 
the  Indian  tribes  submitted  and  brought  in  hostages  for  their  good 
behaviour,  and  while  he  was  in  pursuit  of  the  British,  fiveTnore 
tribes  followed  their  example,  and  brought  hostages  to  Detroit. 
They  were  received  by  general  M' Arthur,  whom  Harrison  had 
left  in  the  command  of  that  place,  and  it  was  agreed  that  hos- 
tilities should  cease  for  the  present,  on  condition  that  they 
should  "  take  hold  of  the  same  tomahawk  with  the  Americans, 
and  strike  all  who  are,  or  may  be,  enemies  to  the  United  States, 
whether  British  or  Indians." 

The  army  returned  to  Detroit  shortly  after  the  battle,  where 
they  embarked  on  board  the  Beet  for  Buffaloe,  in  order  to  join 
the  army  under  general  Wilkinson. 

§  6.  About  the  middle  of  September  an  expedition  was  sent 
from  St.  Louis,  on  the  Mississippi,  against  the  Indian  settle- 
ments on  the  Peoria  lake  on  the  river  Illinois.  It  consisted  of 
about  200  regulars  of  the  1st  regiment  of  United  States  infan- 
try, with  a  considerable  body  of  rangers  and  mounted  militia, 
under  the  command  of  brigadier-general  Howard.  The  regu- 
lars ascended  the  Illinois  in  boats ;  the  mounted  troops  proceed- 
ed up  the  Mississippi  in  two.  divisions,  one  on  each  side  of  the 
river,  for  a  considerable  distance,  and  then  crossed  the  country 
to  the  Peoria  lake.  The  different  detachments  had  not  proceed- 
ed far  before  it  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  were  descending 
the  Illinois  to  ravage  the  frontier ;  and  a  skirmish  took  place 
between  a  party  of  Indians  and  the  detachment  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Mississippi,  who,  however,  soon  drove  them  before  them. 
On  the  evening  of  the  28th  of  September,  the  two  detachments 
that  had  marched  up  the  Mississippi,  and  thence  across  to  the 
Illinois,  arrived  within  a  few  miles  of  the  old  village,  and  three 
men  were  sent  forward  to  discover  whether  the  regulars  had 
arrived.  During  the  night  lieutenant-colonel  Nicholson,  who 
commanded  the  regulars,  descended  the  Illinois  to  the  encamp- 


ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  99 

ment,  and  reported  their  arrival  at  Peoria,  where  they  had  com- 
menced building  a  fort.  He  had  been  attacked  by  the  Indians 
the  day  previous ;  but  the  enemy  were  soon  dispersed  by  a  well- 
directed  discharge  of  musketry,  with  the  aid  of  a  six-pounder 
from  two  unfinished  block-houses.  In  this  attack  none  of  the 
men  were  killed,  and  only  one  wounded. — It  was  evident  that 
the  assailants  suffered  considerably,  but  to  what  extent  could 
not  be  ascertained. 

On  the  29th  the  mounjted  troops  arrived  at  Peoria,  and,  as 
soon  as  provisions  could  be  drawn,  were  matched  up  the  Illinois 
to  the  villages  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  which  was  the  direction 
in  which  the  enemy  appeared  to  have  retired  from  Peoria.  The 
villages  being  found  deserted  were  destroyed,  and  the  troops 
returned  to  Peoria,"  where  they  remained  till  the  garrison  was 
put  in  a  state  of  defence.  Two  detachments  were  then  sent  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy,  one  of  which  ascended  the  Illinois  above 
the  mouth  of  the  Vcnnillion  river  to  the  Rapids,  and  within 
75  miles  of  Chicago,  on  lake  Michigan.  The  other  penetrated 
the  country  northwardly  to  within  about  45  miles  of  Rock  river. 
The  latter  discovered  several  encampments  which  appeared  to 
have  been  deserted  about  the  time  of  the  army's  arrival  at  Peo- 
ria, but  neither  of  them  were  able  to  come  up  with  the  enemy. 

The  mounted  troops  remained  at  Peoria  from  the  2d  to  the 
15th  of  October,  during  which  time  they  were  actively  engaged, 
together  with  the  United  States  infantry,  in  erecting  Fort 
Clarke,  which  stands  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Peoria  lake,  com- 
pletely commanding  the  Illinois  river.  This  fort  is  one  of  the 
strongest  in  the  western  country,  and  highly  important  to  the 
safety  of  the  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Missouri  territories. 

The  mounted  troops  moved  from  Peoria  for  the  settlements 
on  the  15th,  leaving  the  regulars  to  garrison  the  fort.  They 
pursued  generally  a  south  course  till  the  21st,  when  they  arriv- 
ed at  Camp  Russell,  where  the  mounted  militia  were  discharged, 
and  the  rangers  sent  across  the  country  to  Vincennes  on  the 
W abash,  where  they  safely  arrived  shortly  after. 

§  7.  After  the  capture  of  Bcerstler's  detachment  the  army 
at  Fort  George  remained  inactive,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
trifling  skirmishes  and  attacks  on  out-posts,  for  the  remainder 
of  the  summer.  Two  circumstances  are  supposed  to  have 
caused  this  inactivity.  The  first  was  the  constant  indisposition 
of  general  Dearborn,  which  prevented  him  from  taking  any 
active  part,  and  which  continued  till  the  15th  of  July,  when  he 
received  orders  to  retire  from  the  command  of  the  army,  until 
his  health  should  be  re-established,  and  until  further  orders,  the 
command  devolving  on  brigadier-general  Boyd.  But  the 


100  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.      [CHAP.VH 

principal  cause  of  the  inactivity  of  this  army  is  presumed  to 
have  been,  the  dangtr  and  indeed  impracticability  of  underta- 
king great  military  movements  before  Chauncey  had  obtaine< 
the  complete  command  of  Lake  Ontario.  Before  this  was 
achieved  the  army  would  always  be  liable  to  be  surrounded,  and 
to  have  its  supplies  cut  off,  and  could  not  expect  to  be  success- 
ful even  with  a  force  considerably  superior  to  that  of  the  enemy. 
The  disaster  at  Detroit  had  taught  a  salutary  lesson  on  this 
subject. 

§  8.  Every  exertion  was  accordingly  made  by  commodore 
Chauncey  for  the  attainment  of  this  important  object.  After 
the  capture  of  Fort  George,  however,  commodore  sir  James 
Yeo,  who  commanded  the  British  squadron,  having  added  con- 
siderably to  his  force  both  of  vessels  and  sailors,  obliged  Chaun- 
cey to  remain  in  port  until  the  new  vessel  the  general  Pike  could 
be  got  ready,  which  was  not  completed  until  the  middle  of  July. 
Before  we  t-nter  upon  the  trial  of  skill  which  now  ensued  be- 
tween Chauncey  and  Yeo,  it  may  not  be  improper  to  take  a 
view  of  his  previous  operations. 

Commodore  Chauncey  arrived  at  Sackett's  Harbour  on  the 
6th  of  October,  1812,  as  commander  of  the  United  States  for- 
ces on  the  lakes,  at  which  time  the  only  American  vessel  on  these 
waters  was  the  brig  Oneida,  of  1 8  guns.  He  immediately  purcha- 
sed six  merchant  vessels,  schooners,  which  were  fitted  out  as  gun- 
boats. His  whole  squadron  mounted  4O  guns  of  different  cali- 
bres, with  450  men,  including  mariners.  The  British  force  on 
Lake  Ontario  consisted  at  this  time  of  the  ship  Royal  George, 
of  26  guns  and  260  men,  ship  Earl  Moira  18  guns  and  SOOmen, 
and  the  schooners  Prince  Regent,  1 8  guns  and  250  men,  Duke 
of  Gloucester,  14  guns  and  80  men,  Torento,  14  guns  and  80 
men,  Governor  Simcoe,  12  guns  and  70  men,  and  Seneca,  4 
guns  and  40  men,  making  a  grand  total  of  108  guns  and  890 
men.  Chauncey's  squadron,  especially  the  schooners,  were  poor 
vessels  and  dull  sailers,  but  his  men  were  much  superior,  a 
great  part  of  the  enemy's  sailors  at  this  time  being  Canadians. 

§  9.  On  the  8th  of  November  Chauncey  sailed  in  the  Onei- 
da with  his  six  schooners  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  on  the 
same  day  fell  in  with  the  Royal  George,  which  he  chased  into 
the  bay  of  Quanti,  where  he  lost  sight  of  her  in  the  night. 
Next  morning  he  again  discovered  her  in  Kingston  channel, 
and  immediately  gave  chase,  and  followed  her  into  the  harbour 
of  Kingston,  where  he  engaged  her  and  the  batteries  for  an 
hour  and  three  quarters.  Chauncey  had  made  up  his  mind  to 
board  her,  notwithstanding  she  was  protected  by  the  batteries  ; 
but  the  wind  blowing  directly  in,  the  pilots  refused  to  tnke 


$  8.J  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  101 

charge  of  the  vessels,  and  it  was  therefore  deemed  imprudent 
to  make  the  attempt  at  this  time.  He  accordingly  hauled  off 
and  beat  up,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy,  to  Four-mile 
point,  where  the  squadron  anchored.  During  the  night  it  blew 
heavy  with  squalls  from  the  westward,  and  there  being  every 
appearance  of  a  gale  of  wind,  the  pilot  became  alarmed,  and 
Chauncey  thought  it  most  prudent  to  get  into  a  place  of  more 
safety^  and  therefore  reluctantly  deferred  renewing  the  attack 
until  a  more  favourable  opportunity. 

The  signal  was  made  to  weigh  at  7  next  morning,  and  the 
squadron  beat  out  of  a  very  narrow  channel,  under  a  heavy 
press  of  sail,  to  the  open  lake.  At  10  they  fell  in  with  the 
Governor  Simcoe,  which  escaped  into  Kingston  harbour  by 
running  over  a  reef  of  rocks,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  three  of 
the  schooners,  during  which  all  her  people  ran  below.  It  now 
coming  on  to  blow  very  heavy,  Chauncey  bore  up  for  Sackett's 
Harbour,  and  on  his  way  thither  captured  two  schooners,  one  of 
which  was  burnt,  after  taking  out  her  sails  and  rigging. 

The  Oneida,  in  this  affair,  had  one  man  killed,  and  three 
slightly  wounded,  and  a  few  ,shot  through  her  sails.  The 
schooners  lost  no  men  by  the  enemy's  fire,  and  received  but 
little  injury  in  their  hulls  and  sails.  One  of  their  guns,  howev- 
er, burst  early  in  the  action,  which  wounded  her  commander 
badly,  and  a  midshipmen  and  three  men  slightly.  The  Royal 
George  received  considerable  injury  in  her  hull  and  in  men,  as 
the  gun-vessels,  with  their  long  thirty-two  pounders,  were  seen 
to  strike  her  almost  every  shot,  and  it  was  observed  that  she 
was  reinforced  with  men  three  different  times  during  the  action. 

On  the  12th  Chauncey  learnt  that  the  Earl  Moira  was  off  the 
False  Ducks,  and  immediately  put  off  in  a  snow-storm  in  the 
hope  of  cutting  her  off  from  Kingston.  In  this  he  was  disap- 
pointed, as  she  escaped  into  the  harbour.  A  vessel  under  her 
convoy,  however,  was  captured,  in  which  was  captain  Brock, 
brother  to  the  general.  Chauncey  now  blockaded  Kingston 
until  the  7th  of  December,  when  he  returned  to  Sackett's  Har- 
bour, being  -no  longer  able  to  keep  the  lake  on  account  of  the 
ice.  During  the  winter  the  ship  Madison,  of  24  guns,  was 
launched  and  fitted  out. 

The  capture  of  York  and  Fort  George  have  already  been 
noticed  in  the  fifth  chapter  of  this  volume.  After  these  events 
nothing  of  importance  occurred  until  the  end  of  July,  Chauncey 
being  unable  to  keep  the  lake  owing  to  several  new  vessels  be- 
ing fitted  out  by  the  British,  and  the  arrival  of  sir  James  Yeo, 
with  a  large  body  of  seamen,  to  take  command  of  the  British 
squadron  on  Lake  Ontario.  It  may  be  proper  to  mention, 


102  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.     [CHAP. 

however,  that  the  brig  Duke  of  Gloucester  was  captured  at 
York,  and  on  the  18th  of  June  lieutenant  Chauncey,  in  the  new 
schooner  Lady  of  the  Lake,  captured,  on  the  16th  of  June,  the 
schooner  Lady  Murray,  laden  with  provisions  and  ammunition, 
and  sixteen  officers  and  privates  besides  the  seamen. 

About  the  middle  of  July,  the  General  Pike  being  ready  to 
sail,  which  brought  the  two  squadrons  nearly  to  a  state  of  equali- 
ty, Chauncey  sailed  from  Sackett's  Harbour,  and,  stretching 
over  for  the  enemy's  shore,  thence  stood  up  the  lake.  He  ar- 
rived off  Niagara  on  the  2Tth.  Here  he  was  informed  by  gene- 
ral Boyd,  that  the  enemy  had  a  considerable  deposit  of  provi- 
sions and  stores  at  Burlington  bay,  which  he  determined  to  at- 
tempt to  destroy,  and  for  that  purpose  embarked  a  small  num- 
ber of  regulars.  At  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the 
fleet  proceeded  for  the  head  of  the  lake,  but,  owing  to  light 
winds  and  calms,  did  not  arrive  there  before  the  evening  of  the 
29th.  Two  parties  were  immediately  sent  on  shore,  who  sur- 
prised and  took  some  of  the  inhabitants,  from  whom  it  was 
learned,  that  the  enemy  had  received  considerable  reinforce- 
ments, and  that  his  force  in  regulars  was  from  six  to  eight  hun- 
dred men.  The  troops,  marines,  and  a  few  sailors  were,  how- 
ever, landed  next  morning,  but,  on  reconnoitering  the  enemy's 
position,  he  was  found  posted  on  a  peninsula  of  very  high 
ground,  strongly  entrenched,  and  his  camp  defended  by  about 
eight  pieces  of  cannon.  In  this  situation  it  was  not  thought  ad- 
viseable  to  attack  him  with  a  force  scarcely  half  his  numbers, 
and  without  artillery ;  more  especially  as  they  were  deficient  in 
boats,  not  having  a  sufficient  number  to  cross  the  bay  with  all 
the  troops  at  the  same  time.  They  accordingly  re-embarked  in 
the  course  of  the  afternoon,  and  in  the  evening  weighed  and 
stood  for  York,  where  they  arrived  on  the  afternoon  of  the  31st. 
The  schooners  ran  into  the  inner  harbour,  where  the  marines  and 
troops  were  landed  without  opposition.  Several  hundred  barrels 
of  flour  and  provisions  were  found  in  the  public  storehouse,  to- 
gether with  five  pieces  of  cannon,  eleven  boats,  and  a  quantity 
of  shot,  shells,  and  other  stores,  all  of  which  were  either  destroy- 
ed or  brought  away.  Next  morning,  after  burning  the  bar- 
racks and  public  storehouses,  the  men  were  re-embarked  and 
the  fleet  sailed  for  Niagara,  where  it  arrived  on  the  3d  ef  Au- 
gust. 

§  10.  At  day-light  of  the  7th,  the  enemy's  fleet  being  disco- 
vered to  windward,  distant  about  five  or  six  miles,  Chauncey 
weighed  and  stood  towards  them.  The  whole  of  this  and  next 
day  was  spent  by  the  two  squadrons  in  manoeuvering  to  gain  a 
favourable  position,  in  which  Chauncey  was  much  baffled  by 


§11.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  103 

the  dull  sailing  of  his  schooners,  two  of  which  were  lost  in  a 
squall  in  the  night,  and  every  soul  on  board  perished  except 
sixteen.  In  the  evening  of  the  8th,  it  being  very  squally,  with 
the  appearance  of  its  continuing  so  during  the  night,  Chauncey 
ran  in  towards  Niagara,  and  anchored  outside  of  the  bar. 

The  following  morning  (August  9th),  Chauncey  again  weigh- 
ed and  stood  towards  the  enemy,  when  a  trial  of  nautical  skill 
once  more  commenced  between  the  two  commanders,  each  en- 
tertaining too  respectful  an  opinion  of  the  other's  force  to  come 
to  an  engagement  without  having  the  advantage  of  the  wind. 
In  the  course  of  the  day  the  wind  frequently  veered,  which  in- 
stantly changed  the  characters  of  the  pursuers  and  the  pursued. 
At  length,  towards  midnight,  Yeo,  whose  vessels  sailed  much 
better  in  squadron  than  those  of  Chauncey,  succeeded  in  cutting 
off  two  of  the  American  heavy-sailing  schooners,  which,  added 
to  Chauncey's  loss  in  the  squall,  gave  Yeo  a  considerable  supe- 
riority of  force  over  his  opponent.  Chauncey,  therefore,  order- 
ed two  of  his  dullest  sailing  vessels  to  run  into  Niagara,  and 
stood  with  the  rest  of  his  squadron  towards  Sackett's  Harbour, 
where  he  arrived  on  the  1 3th. 

§11.  Having  victualled  his  squadron,  which  was  reinforced 
with  a  new  schooner,  Chauncey  shortly  after  sailed  on  a  cruise^ 
and  on  the  7th  of  September,  at  day-light,  while  lying  in  Nia- 
gara river,  discovered  the  enemy's  fleet  close  in  with  the  shore. 
The  signal  was  instantly  made  to  weigh,  and  the  fleet  stood 
out  of  the  river  after  him.  Yeo  immediately  made  all  sail  to 
the  northward,  and  Chauncey  pursued  for  four  days,  but  was 
prevented  from  closing  with  him  by  the  heavy  sailing  of  his 
schooners.  On  the  fourth  day,  while  off  Genesee  river,  Chaun- 
cey was  favoured  with  a  breeze,  while  Yeo  lay  becalmed  until 
his  opponent  got  within  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  of  him, 
when  he  took  the  breeze.  The  squadrons  now  had  a  running 
fight  for  three  hours  and  a  half,  when  the  British  got  out  of 
gun-shot  by  their  superior  sailing.  The  next  morning  Yeo  run 
into  Amherst  bay,  having  been  chased  for  five  days  without  in- 
termission. Amherst  bay  was  so  little  known  to  the  American 
pilots,  and  said  to  be  so  full  of  shoals,  that  they  were  not 
willing  to  take  in  the  fleet ;  Chauncey,  therefore,  stationed  his 
vessels  off  Duck  island,  with  the  intention  of  blockading  the 
enemy,  and  preventing  him  from  getting  out  upon  the  lake. 

In  the  running  fight  which  took  place  on  the  llth,  the  British 
sustained  considerable  injury  both  in  men  and  vessels.  On 
board  the  American  fleet  not  a  man  was  hurt,  and  the  vessels 
suffered  no  injury  of  any  importance. 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER.       [CHAP.  vn. 

Chauncey  continued  his  blockade  until  the  17th  of  Septem 
her,  when,  the  wind  blowing  heavy  from  the  westward,  and  th 
enemy  having  run  into  Kingston,  he  left  his  station  for  Sackett' 
Harbour,  where  he  arrived  the  same  night.  Next  morning  a 
day-light  he  again  sailed,  and  on  the  t9th  ^aw  the  enemy's  fleet 
near  the  False  Ducks,  but  took  no  notice  of  him,  as  he  wished 
him  to  follow  up  the  lake.  The  squadron  arrived  in  Niagara 
river  on  the  24th. 

§  12.  On  the  26th,  it  was  reported  to  Chauncey  that  the  ene- 
my's fleet  was  in  York,  when  he  immediately  despatched  the 
Lady  of  the  Lake  to  ascertain  the  fact.  She  returned  in  the 
evening  with  the  information  that  the  enemy  was  in  York  bay 
The  squadron  immediately  weighed  anchor,  but,  owing  to  a 
strong  head  wind,  was  not  able  to  get  out  of  the  river  till  the 
evening  of  the  27th.  Owing  to  the  extreme  darkness  of  the 
night  a  part  of  the  squadron  got  separated,  and  did  not  join  till 
next  morning  at  eight,  when  the  General  Pike,  Madison,  and 
Sylph  each  took  a  schooner  in  tow,  and  made  all  sail  for  York, 
and  soon  after  discovering  the  enemy's  fleet  under  way  in  York 
bay,  the  squadron  shaped  their  course  for  them,  and  prepared 
for  action. 

Yeo,  perceiving  that  Chauncey  intended  to  engage  him  in  his 
position,  tacked  and  stood  out  of  the  bay,  with  the  wind  at  east. 
Chauncey  formed  the  line  and  run  down  for  his  centre,  and 
when  he  approached  within  about  three  miles  of  him,  Yeo  made 
all  sail  to  the  southward.  Chauncey 's  squadron  then  wore  in 
succession,  and  stood  on  the  same  tack  with  him,  edging  down 
gradually  in  order  to  close ;  and  about  twelve  o'clock,  Yeo,  find- 
ing he  must  either  risk  an  action,  or  suffer  his  two  rear  vessels 
to  be  cut  off,  tacked  his  squadron  in  succession,  beginning  at  the 
van,  hoisted  his  colours,  and  commenced  a  well- directed  fire  at 
the  Pike,  for  the  purpose  of  co'vering  his  rear,  and  attacking  the 
rear  of  his  opponent  as  he  passed  to  leeward.  Chauncey  per- 
ceived his  intention,  and  therefore,  as  soon  as  the  Wolfe,  the 
enemy's  leading  ship,  passed  the  centre,  and  got  abeam  of  the 
American  squadron,  he  bore  up  in  succession,  preserving  the 
line,  for  the  centre  of  the  British  squadron.  This  manoeuvre  of 
Chauncey's  not  only  covered  his  rear,  but  threw  the  enemy  into 
confusion,  and  caused  him  immediately  to  bear  away.  Chaun- 
cey had  now,  however,  closed  so  near  as  to  bring  his  guns  to 
bear  with  effect,  and  in  twenty  minutes  the  main  and  mizen  top- 
mast and  main-yard  of  the  Wolfe  was  shot  away.  Yeo  imme- 
diately put  before  the  wind,  and  set  all  sail  upon  his  fore-mast ; 
Chauncey  made  the  signal  for  the  fleet  to  make  all  sail ;  but  the 
the  enemy,  by  keeping  dead  before  the  wind,  which  brought 


§  12.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  105 

' 

the  sail  upon  one  mast,  and  prevented  his  feeling  the  loss  of  his 
main  and  mizen  topmast,  was  enabled  to  outsail  most  of  Ch  sun- 
cey's  squadron.  The  chase  was  continued  till  near  three  o'clock, 
during  the  whole  of  which  the  Pike,  with  the  Asp  in  tow,  was 
within  point-blank  shot  of  the  enemy,  and  sustained  the  whole  of 
his  fire.  Captain  Crane  in  the  Madison,  and  lieutenant  Brown  in 
the  Oneida,  used  every  exertion  to  close  with  the  enemy ;  but  the 
Madison  having  a  heavy  schooner  in  tow,  and  the  Oneida  sail- 
ing very  dull  before  the  wind,  prevented  those  officers  from 
closing  near  enough  to  do  any  execution  with  their  carronades. 
The  Governor  Fompkins  kept  in  her  station,  until  her  fore- 
mast was  so  badly  wounded  as  to  oblige  her  to  shorten  sail. 

Commodore  Chauncey  now  reluctantly  relinquished  the  pur- 
suit. The  reasons  which  induced  this  determination,  are  thus 
stated  in  his  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy  :  "  At  the  time  I 
gave  up  the  chase,  this  ship  was  making  so  much  water,  that  it 
required  all  our  pumps  to  keep  her  free  (owing  to  our  receiving 
several  shot  so  much  below  the  water  edge,  that  we  could  not 
plug  the  holes  from  the  outside) ;  the  Governor  Tompkins  with 
her  fore-mast  gone ;  and  the  squadron  within  about  six  miles  of 
the  head  of  the  lake,  it  blowing  a  gale  of  wind  from  east,  and 
increasing  with  a  heavy  sea  on,  and  every  appearance  of  the 
equinox.  I  considered  that  if  I  chased  the  enem\  to  his  an- 
chorage at  the  head  of  the  lake,  I  should  be  obliged  to  anchor 
also ;  and  although  we  might  succeed  in  driving  him  on  shore, 
the  probability  was,  that  we  should  go  on  shore  also — he  amongst 
his  friends,  we  amongst  our  enemies  ;  and  after  the  gale  abated, 
if  he  could  succeed  in  getting  off  one  or  two  vessels  out  of  the 
two  fleets,  it  would  give  him  as  completely  the  command  of  the 
lake  as  if  he  had  twenty  vessels.  Moreover,  he  was  covered  at 
his  anchorage  by  a  part  of  his  army,  and  several  small  batteri*  s 
thrown  up  for  the  purpose.  Therefore,  if  we  could  have  r< .<!:: 
out  the  gale,  we  should  have  been  cut  up  by  their  shot  from  the 
shore  :  under  all  these  circumstances,  and  taking  into  view  the 
consequences  resulting  from  the  loss  of  our  superiority  on  the 
lakes  at  this  time,  I  without  hesitation  relinquished  the  oppor- 
tunity then  presenting  itself,  of  acquiring  individual  reputation 
at  the  expense  of  my  country." 

The  loss  sustained  by  the  Pike,  the  commodore's  ship,  was 
considerable,  owing  to  her  being  so  long  exposed  to  the  fire  of 
the  whole  of  the  enemy's  fleet;  but  her  most  serious  loss  was  oc- 
casioned by  the  bursting  of  one  of  her  guns,  which  killed  and 
wounded  twenty-two  men,  and  tore  up  the  top-gallant  fore- 
castle, which  rendered  the  gun  upon  that  deck  useless.  Four 

VOL.  I.  PART  II.  0 


106  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.       [CHAP.  vii. 

other  guns  were  cracked  in  the  muzzle,  which  rendered  their 
use  extremely  doubtful.  Her  main-top-gallant-mast  was  shot 
away  in  the  early  part  of  the  action,  and  the  bow-sprit,  fore  and 
main-mast  wounded,  rigging  and  sails  much  cut  up,  and  a  num- 
ber of  shot  in  her  hull,  several  of  which  were  between  wind  and 
water,  and  twenty-seven  men  killed  and  wounded,  including 
those  by  the  bursting  of  the  gun.  The  Madison  received 
few  shot,  but  no  person  was  hurt  on  board.  The  Governor 
Tom  kins  lost  her  fore-mast,  and  the  Oneida  had  her  main-top 
mast  badly  wounded. 

During  the  chase,  one  or  two  of  the  enemy's  small  vessels 
were  completely  within  Chauncey's  power,  but  in  the  eagerness 
of  his  pursuit  of  the  larger,  he  passed  them  unnoticed,  by  which 
means  they  finally  escaped. 

Meanwhile  general  Wilkinson  had  arrived  at  Fort  George, 
in  order  to  take  the  command  of  the  army.  About  the  same 
time  the  secretary  at  war  arrived  at  Sackett's  Harbour,  in  order 
to  be  more  conveniently  situated  for  superintending  military 
operations. 

The  wind  still  continuing  unfavourable  for  an  attack  on  the 
British  squadron  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  Chauncey  ran  off  Nia- 
gara for  the  purpose  of  communicating  with  Wilkinson,  to  as- 
certain when  he  meant  to  move  with  the  army  to  Sackett's  Har- 
bour. It  was  the  general's  opinion,  that  the  public  service 
would  be  best  promoted  by  his  watching  the  enemy's  squadron, 
or,  if  possible,  preventing  its  return  to  Kingston,  while  he  mov- 
ed with  the  army  down  the  lake.  Chauncey,  therefore,  having 
taken  part  of  the  troops  on  board  his  squadron,  the  remainder 
proceeding  in  boats  to  Sackett's  Harbour,  immediately  pro- 
ceeded in  quest  of  the  enemy.  The  following  morning,  Octo- 
ber 2d,  he  discovered  the  British  squadron  standing  towards 
him,  and  made  all  sail  in  chase  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  fleets  ap- 
proached so  near  as  plainly  to  discern  each  other,  Yeo  put  about, 
and  stood  towards  the  head  of  the  lake.  The  chase  continued 
until  the  4th,  little  progress  being  made  against  the  current, 
from  the  lightness  or  variableness  of  the  wind,  the  British, 
however,  evidently  gaining  ground  of  the  American  squad- 
ron. The  morning  of  the  4th  proving  hazy,  nothing  could  be 
seen  of  the  enemy,  and  about  noon  it  fell  calm,  when  Chauncey 
ordered  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  to  sweep  up  to  Burlington  bay, 
which  was  not  far  distant,  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  the 
squadron  was  there.  In  the  evening  she  returned  with  infor- 
mation that  the  fleet  was  gone,  there  being  nothing  in  the  bav 
but  two  gun-boats. 


§  13.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  107 

$  13.  It  was  now  evident  that  Yeo,  availing  himself  of  the 
darkness  of  the  preceding  night,  had  either  run  for  Kingston, 
or  down  the  lake  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting  the  flotilla  with 
the  army.  Chauncey,  therefore,  immediately  made  all  sail,  and 
shaped  his  course  for  the  Ducks,  with  a  view  of  intercepting 
him,  or  his  prizes,  if  he  should  have  made  any.  The  wind 
blowing  a  strong  gale  from  the  northward  and  westward,  the 
fleet  made  a  great  run,  and  at  three  in  the  afternoon  of  the  5th, 
discovered  seven  sail  near  the  False  Ducks,  to  which,  presum- 
ing they  were  the  enemy's  fleet,  they  instantly  gave  chase.  In 
about  an  hour,  however,  they  were  discovered  to  be  sloops  and 
schooners,  and  were  perceived  to  be  separating  on  different 
tacks,  on  which  the  Sylph  and  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  were  dis- 
patched after  one  part,  and  Chauncey  in  the  Pike  pursued  the 
others.  About  five  o'clock  the  enemy,  finding  that  the  Pike 
was  fast  gaining  on  him,  took  the  people  out  of  one  of  his  gun 
vessels  which  sailed  worse  than  the  rest,  and  set  her  on  fire. 
This,  however,  availed  them  but  little,  for  at  sun-down,  three 
of  their  vessels  were  forced  to  strike  to  the  Pike,  and  soon  after 
the  Sylph  captured  another.  A  fifth  ran  into  the  Ducks,  but 
the  Sylph,  which  was  left  to  watch  her,  took  possession  of  her 
early  next  morning.  A  small  schooner  was  the  only  vessel 
that  escaped,  owing  to  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

The  captured  vessels  were  found  to  be  gun-vessels,  with 
troops  from  the  head  of  the  lake,  but  last  from  York,  bound  to 
Kingston.  Two  of  them  were  the  Julia  and  Growler,  which 
Chauncey  had  lost  in  the  action  of  the  9th  of  August.  The 
prisoners  taken  amounted  to  nearly  30O,  principally  belonging 
to  the  De  Watteville,  a  German  regiment.  From  them  it  was 
learnt  that  the  British  fleet,  in  the  action  of  the  28th  of  Septem- 
ber, at  the  head  of  the  lake,  was  very  much  cut  up  in  their  hulls 
and  spars,  and  had  a  great  many  killed  and  wounded,  particu- 
larly on  board  of  the  Wolfe  and  Royal  George. 


108  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP, 


CHAPTER  VIIL 


§  1.  Movements  on  lake  Champlain.  §  2.  General  Hampton  inva 
Canada.  §  3.  Wilkinson  moves  down  the  St.  Lawrence.  §  4.  Battle 
of  Williamsburgh.  §  5.  Hampton  declines  a  junction.  §  6.  The  army 
moves  into  winter-quarters.  §  7.  Evacuation  of  Fort  George.  §  8 
Fort  Niagara  taken  by  storm.  §  9.  The  Niagara  frontier  laid  waste. 

§  1.  IN  addition  to  the  army  in  Ohio,  and  that  on  the  Niagara 
frontier,  a  considerable  body  of  troops  was  collected,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1812,  upon  lake  Champlain;  a  number  of  vessels  also 
were  built  to  gain  the  command  of  those  waters.  In  the  cam- 
paign of  that  year,  however,  no  important  movement  was  made 
in  that  quarter.  Towards  the  end  of  May,  1813,  several  of  the 
British  gun-boats  having  crossed  the  lines,  for  the  purpose  of 
capturing  the  craft  upon  the  lake,  two  of  the  American  armed 
sloops,  the  Eagle  and  Growler,  sailed  from  Plattsburg  on  the  2d 
of  June  for  their  protection.  They  arrived  within  about  a 
mile  of  the  lines  about  dark,  where  they  cast  anchor  for  the 
night.  Next  morning,  about  day-break,  they  discovered  three 
British  gun-boats,  to  which  they  gave  chase,  but  the  wind  being 
south,  they  unfortunately  ran  so  far  into  the  narrow  channel  that 
they  found  it  difficult  to  return,  and  the  Eagle,  not  being  suffi- 
ciently strong  for  her  weight  of  metal,  became  unmanageable, 
and  at  last  went  down  ;  the  water,  however,  being  shoal,  the 
crew  were  saved.  The  Growler,  unwilling  to  abandon  her 
companion,  continued  to  fight  until  after  the  Eagle  sunk,  when 
she  was  compelled  to  strike  to  superior  force.  The  enemy  had 
five  gun-boats  in  the  action,  besides  a  considerable  force  in  mus- 
quetry  on  both  sides  of  the  channel,  which  was  so  narrow 
as  to  place  the  sloops  within  their  reach  from  both  shores.  An 
official  account  of  this  affair  has  not  been  published,  but  it  is  stat- 
ed, on  the  authority  of  the  enemy,  that  they  had  two  killed,  the 
Americans  only  one,  but  a  considerable  number  of  the  latter 
were  wounded.  {The  British  afterwards  succeeded  in  raising 
the  Eagle. 

The  loss  of  the  sloops  giving  the  British  the  superiority  on 
the  lake,  on  the  30th  of  July  a  considerable  force  crossed  the 
lines  in  forty-four  barges,  protected  by  the  Growler  and  Eagle, 
three  row-gallies,  and  a  gun-boat,  under  the  command  of  colo- 
nel Murray.  The  following  day  they  appeared  off  Plattsburg, 


$  2.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  109 

and  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  into  the  town  to  demand  its  surren- 
der, with  the  assurance  that  if  no  resistance  was  made,  private 
property  should  be  respected.  There  being  no  troops  in 
the  place,  of  course  there  was  no  resistance,  and  the  enemy 
landed  and  burnt  the  public  buildings,  consisting  of  a  blockhouse, 
barracks,  arsenal,  &c.,  when  they  again  embarked. 

On  the  2d  of  August  the  enemy  appeared  off  Burlington,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  lake,  where  the  American  army  was  sta- 
tioned under  general  Hampton,  and  opened  their  fire  from  two 
sloops  and  a  galley,  which  was  returned  from  a  battery  in  front  of 
the  town,  the  fire  from  which  soon  compelled  them  to  make  off. 
Several  gun- boats  and  sloops  lay  under  the  battery,  but  were  un- 
able to  pursue  the  enemy,  having  suffered  severely  in  a  gale  a 
few  days  previous. 

§  2.  In  the  month  of  October,  Hampton's  army  crossed  the 
lake,  and  proceeded  towards  the  Canada  lines,  which  they 
crossed  about  the  20th  or  21st.  The  army  moved  in  two  di- 
visions, one  on  each  side  of  the  Chateaugay  river,  and  on  two 
different  days  drove  in  the  British  pickets,  one  of  which  they 
succeeded  in  capturing.  Every  precaution  had  been  taken  by 
the  enemy  to  intercept  the  progress  of  the  army.  The  roads  were 
filled  with  trees,  which  had  been  previously  felled  in  every  direc- 
tion ;  the  bridges  were  destroyed,  and  the  houses  burnt  or  pul- 
led down.  Notwithstanding  these  impediments,  however,  they 
continued  slowly  to  advance  till  the  26th,  when  the  advanced 
guard  was  attacked  on  both  side  of  the  river  by  a  body  of  re- 
gulars, voltigeurs,  and  Indians,  posted  in  strong  positions  in  a 
wood,  flanked  by  the  river  and  impassable  swamps.  The  at- 
tack was  several  times  renewed,  and  the  enemy  always  driven  be- 
hind their  works.  On  the  27th  one  of  the  divisions  forded  the 
river,  and  the  whole  army  returned  within  the  American 
lines  to  Four  Corners.  The  British  claimed  great  merit  from 
this  splendid  victory,  as  they  call  it,  which  they  assert  was 
achieved  by  a  force  of  only  300  men,  against  Hampton's  whole 
army,  which  consisted  of  3000  or  3500.  From  their  own  state- 
ment, however,  it  would  appear  that  their  force  was  much 
larger  than  they  represent  it.  They  state  it  to  have  consisted  of 

"  Captains  Levesque  and  Debartzch,  with  their  flank  compa- 
nies of  the  5th  battalion  incorporated  militia,  together  with  about 
200  of  the  Beauharnois  division." 

"  Lieutenant-colonel  De  Salaberry,  with  his  voltigeurs,  and 
captain  Ferguson's  light  company  of  the  Canadian  regiment." 

Besides  these  are  mentioned,  in  the  course  of  the  action, 

"  A  large  body  of  Indians  under  captain  Lamothe." 

"  Lieutenant-colonel  McDonnell, 'of  the  Glengary  light  infan- 
try, with  part  of  his  light  brigade." 


110  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP,  vm, 

These  forces  do  not  include  the  reinforcements  which  are 
stated  to  have  arrived  the  following  day.  And  yet  we  are  gravely 
told,  that,  "  though  it  may  appear  incredible,  the  whole  force 
engaged  on  our  side  did  not  exceed  30O  men*." 

But  even  allowing  their  force  to  be  as  small  as  is  here  repre- 
sented, it  by  no  means  follows,  either  that  a  victory  was  gained, 
or  that  Hampton's  measures  were  baffled.  It  does  not  appear 
that  it  was  the  intention  of  the  American  general  to  push  on  by 
this  route  to  Montreal,  for  the  reduction  of  which  his  small  force 
was  utterly  incompetent,  independent  of  the  natural  impedi- 
ments which  this  part  of  the  country  presented  to  an  invading 
army.  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt,  indeed,  that  this  movement 
was  merely  intended  as  a  demonstration,  to  divert  and  distract 
the  attention  of  the  enemy  from  the  movements  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence, and  this  end  being  completely  attained,  it  was  not  the  ge- 
neral's intention  to  risque  the  loss  of  any  part,  however  small,  of 
his  army,  by  an  attempt  to  force  a  position  so  strong  as  the  Bri- 
tish represent  this  to  have  been. 

§  3.  General  Wilkinson  having  transported  his  army  in  safety 
from  Fort  George  to  Sackett's  Harbour,  in  the  beginning  of  Oc- 
tober, in  a  few  days  they  were  again  moved  to  Grenadier  Island, 
with  the  intention  of  immediately  proceeding  down  the  St.  Law- 
rence against  Montreal.  Considerable  delay,  however,  took 
place,  owing  to  the  uncommon  severity  of  the  weather,  and  it 
was  not  until  the  3d  of  November  that  he  was  enabled  to  move. 
On  the  evening  of  the  6th  he  reached  Ogdensburg,  whence  .he 
wrote  to  general  Hampton  at  Four  Corners  (where  he  had  es- 
tablished his  head-quarters  after  his  return  from  Canada),  or- 
dering him  to  form  a  junction  with  him  on  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  recommending  St.  Regis  as  the  most  suitable  place,  where 
he  expected  to  be  on  the  9th.  u  On  the  subject  of  provisions," 
continues  Wilkinson,  u  I  wish  I  could  give  a  favourable  inform- 
ation ;  our  whole  stock  of  bread  may  be  computed  at  about  fif- 
teen days,  and  our  meat  at  twenty.  In  speaking  on  this  subject 
to  the  secretary  of  war,  he  informed  me  ample  magazines  were 
laid  up  on  lake  Champlain,  and  therefore  I  must  request  of  you  to 
order  forward  two  or  three  months'  supply  by  the  safest  route, 
in  a  direction  to  the  proposed  scene  of  action.  I  have  submitted 
the  state  of  provisions  to  my  general  officers,  who  unanimously 
agree  that  it  should  not  prevent  the  progress  of  the  expedition  ; 
and  they  also  agree  in  opinion,  if  you  are  not  in  force  to  face  the 
enemy,  you  should  meet  us  at  St.  Regis  or  its  vicinity." 

*  The  statement  here  alluded  to  is  not  the  official  account.    It  is  a  detailed 
account,  apparently  written  by  an  officer  who  was  present  at  the  affair. 


$4.]'  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  Ill 

A  short  distance  below  Ogdensburg,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  St.  Lawrence,  stands  Prescot,  a  fortified  post  commanding 
the  river.  The  lateness  of  the  season  not  admitting  of  delay,  Wil- 
kinson determined  to  pass  it  in  the  night,  in  place  of  stopping  to 
reduce  it.  This  was  effected  on  the  night  of  the  6th,  without 
other  loss  than  two  privates  killed  and  three  wounded.  In  the 
course  of  the  8th  the  cavalry  was  crossed  from  the  American  to 
the  Canada  shore,  and  a  detachment  of  the  infantry  was  landed, 
to  prevent  the  enemy,  who  had  previously  lined  the  shore  with 
musquetry,  from  harassing  the  boats  in  their  passage  down  the 
river.  A  considerable  body  of  the  enemy  from  Kingston  also,  in 
concert  with  a  heavy  galley  and  a  few  gun-boats,  hung  on  the 
rear  of  the  Americans,  and  considerably  retarded  their  progress. 

On  the  morning  of  the  lOth,  general  Brown  advanced  down 
the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  clearing  its  banks,  as  a  rapid,  eight 
miles  long,  was  expected  to  be  passed  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
in  the  passage  of  which,  without  this  precaution,  the  army 
would  be  much  exposed.  About  noon,  the  army  was  apprized 
by  the  report  of  artillery,  that  Brown  was  engaged  some  dis- 
tance below,  and  about  the  same  time  the  enemy  were  observed 
in  their  rear.  Their  galley  and  gun-boats  having  approached 
the  flotilla,  and  opened  their  fire,  Wilkinson  ordered  a  battery 
of  eighteen  pounders  to  be  planted,  the  shot  from  which  soon 
compelled  the  vessels  of  the  enemy  to  retire,  together  with  their 
troops,  after  some  firing  between  the  advanced  parties. 

§  4.  The  day  was  now  so  far  spent,  that  the  pilots  did  not 
dare  to  enter  the  rapid,  and  therefore  the  flotilla  fell  down  about 
two  miles,  and  came  to  for  the  night.  Early  next  morning 
every  thing  was  ready  to  move,  but  it  was  still  deemed  impru- 
dent to  commit  the  flotilla  to  the  rapid  until  the  result  of  general 
Brown's  affair  should  be  ascertained.  At  half  past  10,  an  officer 
arrived  with  information  that  Brown  had  forced  the  enemy  to 
retire,  and  that  he  would  reach  the  foot  of  the  rapid  early  in  the 
day.  Orders  were  now  given  for  the  flotilla  to  sail ;  but  at  this 
moment  the  enemy's  gun-boats  appeared  and  began  to  fire,  and 
information  was  received  from  general  Boyd,  that  the  enemy's 
troops  were  advancing  in  column,  on  which  Wilkinson  sent  him 
orders  to  attack  them.  This  report  was  soon  contradicted ;  but 
their  gun-boats  continued  to  annoy  the  flotilla,  and  such  a  varie- 
ty of  reports  of  the  movements  and  counter-movements  of  the 
troops  on  shore  was  brought  to  Wilkinson,  as  convinced  him  of 
their  determination  to  hazard  an  attack,  when  it  could  be  done 
to  advantage.  He  therefore  resolved  to  anticipate  them  ;  and 
directions  were  accordingly  sent  to  general  Boyd  to  throw  the 
detachments  under  his  command  into  three  columns,  to  inarch 


112  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.     [CHAP.  vm. 

upon  the  enemy,  outflank  them  if  possible,  and  take  their  artil- 
lery. The  force  under  Boyd  consisted  of  detachments  from 
the  first,  third,  and  fourth  brigades,  which  were  formed  agreea- 
bly to  orders,  and  placed  respectively  under  colonel  Coles,  gene- 
ral Covington,  and  general  Swartwout.  A  report  was  now 
brought  to  Boyd  from  the  rear  guard,  that  a  body  of  about  20O 
British  and  Indians  had  advanced  into  the  woods  that  skirted 
his  rear.  General  Swartwout,  with  the  fourth  brigade,  was  im- 
mediately ordered  to  dislodge  them  ;  general  Covington,  with 
the  third  brigade,  being  at  the  same  time  directed  to  be  within 
supporting  distance.  General  Swartwout  dashed  into  the  woods, 
and  with  the  21st  infantry  (a  part  of  his  brigade),  after  a 
short  skirmish,  drove  them  back  to  the  position  of  their  main 
body.  Here  he  was  joined  by  general  Covington.  The  ene- 
my had  judiciously  chosen  his  ground  among  the  deep  ravines 
which  every  where  intersected  the  extensive  plain,  and  dis- 
charged a  heavy  and  galling  fire  upon  the  advanced  columns  of 
the  Americans.  No  opposition  or  obstacle,  however,  checked 
their  ardour.  The  enemy  retired  for  more  than  a  mile  before 
their  resolute  and  repeated  charges.  During  this  time,  the  de- 
tachment of  the  first  brigade  under  colonel  Coles,  whose  greater 
distance  from  the  scene  of  action  retarded  its  arrival,  rapidly 
entered  the  field.  Being  directed  to  attack  the  enemy's  left 
flank,  this  movement  was  promptly  and  bravely  executed,  amid 
a  shower  of  musquetry  and  sharpnel  shells.  The  fight  now  be- 
came more  stationary,  until  the  brigade  first  engaged,  having 
expended  all  their  ammunition,  were  directed  to  retire  to  a 
more  defensible  position,  to  wait  for  a  re-supply.  This  move- 
ment so  disconnected  the  line,  as  to  render  it  expedient  for  the 
first  brigade  likewise  to  retire. 

The  artillery,  excepting  two  pieces  attached  to  the  rear  divi- 
sion (which,  from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  and  the  circuitous 
route  they  had  to  take,  were  likewise  much  retarded  in  their  ar- 
rival), did  not  reach  the  ground  until  the  line,  for  want  of  am- 
munition, had  already  begun  to  fall  back.  When  they  were  ar- 
ranged, their  fire  was  sure  and  destructive.  When  the  artillery 
was  finally  directed  to  retire,  having  to  cross  a  deep,  and,  except- 
ing in  one  place,  to  artillery,  impassible  ravine,  one  piece  was 
unfortunately  lost,  by  the  fall  of  its  gallant  commander,  lieute- 
nant Smith,  and  most  of  his  men. 

The  whole  line  was  now  re-formed  on  the  borders  of  those 
woods  from  which  the  enemy  had  first  been  driven ;  when,  night 
coming  on,  and  the  storm  returning,  Boyd,  conceiving  the  ob- 
ject in  view,  which  was  to  beat  back  the  enemy  that  would  re- 
tard the  junction  with  the  main  body  below,  to  have  been  ac- 


§4.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  113 

complishecl,  directed  the  troops  to  return  to  the  ground  near 
the  flotilla ;  which  movement  was  executed  in  good  order, 
and  without  molestation  from  the  enemy. 

As  the"  American  force  in  this  action,  which  took  place  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Williamsburgh,  consisted  of  indefinite 
detachments  taken  from  the  boats,  it  is  impossible  to  say  with 
.accuracy  what  was  the  number  on  the  field  ;  but  it  was  suppos- 
ed to  be  about  1600  or  170Omen.  The  force  of  the  enemy 
was  estimated  at  from  120O  to  2000,  exclusive  of  militia.  The 
British  say  their  force  did  not  exceed  800  rank  and  file,  in  which 
statement  the  militia  and  Indians  are  probably  not  included. 
The  Americans  had  102  killed,  and  237  wounded,  among  the 
latter  general  Covington,  mortally.  The  British  state  their  loss 
at  22  killed,  147  wounded,  and  12  missing.  Both  parties  claim 
the  victory  in  this  battle  :  the  British,  because  they  captured  a 
piece  of  cannon,  and  because  the  Americans  retired  from  the 
battle  ground  ;  the  Americans,  because  their  object  \v as  fully 
attained,  that  of  beating  back  the  enemy,  who  was  harassing 
them  in  their  progress  down  the  river.  The  British  account 
states  that  they  took  upwards  of  100  prisoners,  of  which  no 
mention  is  made  by  the  Americans. 

At  the  time  of  this  action  general  Wilkinson  was  confined  to 
his  bed,  and  emaciated  almost  to  a  skeleton,  a  disease  with 
which  he  was  assailed  on  the  2d  of  September,  on  his  journey 
to  Fort  George,  having,  with  a  few  short  intervals  of  convales- 
cence, preyed  on  him  ever  since. 

The  Americans  having  resumed  their  position  on  the  banks 
of  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  infantry,  being  much  fatigued,  were  re- 
embarked,  and  proceeded  down  the  river,  without  further  an- 
novance  from  the  enemy  or  their  gun-boats,  while  the  dragoons, 
with  five  pieces  of  light  artillery,  marched  down  the  Canada 
shore  without  molestation.  The  next  morning  the  flotilla  pass- 
ed safely  down  the  rapids,  and  joined  general  Brown,  at  Barn- 
hart's,  near  Cornwall,  where  he  had  been  instructed  to  take  pest 
and  wait  their  arrival. 

Jhere  has  been  no  official  account  published,  either  American 
ritish,  of  Brown's  action  ;  but  it  is  stated,  on  the  authority 
of  one  of  the  officers,  that  the  enemv,  to  the  numbi  r  of  700  men, 
were  posted  on  the  lower  side  of  a  rivulet,  the  bridges  over 
which  had  been  destroyed,  and  that  Brown  forded  it  about  two 
miles  above,  gained  their  rear,  and,  attacking  them  with  his  ar- 
tillery and  musquetry,  almost  literalK  cat  them  to  pieces,  ex- 
cept about  200,  who  were  made  prisoners.  Very  few  of  their 
whole  force  made  their  escape. 

VOL.    I.    PART  II.  P 


114  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.      [CHAP.  vm. 

§  5.  At  Barnhart's  Wilkinson  confidently  expected  to  have 
heard  of  Hampton's  arrival  on  the  opposite  shore,  but,  immedi- 
ately on  his  halting,  colonel  Atkinson  waited  on  him  with  a  Itttt 
from  that  officer,  in  which,  to  the  surprise  and  mortification  of 
Wilkinson,  Hampton  declined  the  junction,  and  informed  hii 
that  he  was  marching  towards  lake  Champlain,  by  way  of  co- 
operating in  the  proposed  attack  on  Montreal.  The  reason  as- 
signed by  Hampton  for  this  measure,  was  the  smallness  ol 
Wilkinson's  stock  of  provisions,  and  the  impossibility,  from  the 
difficulty  of  transportation  at  this  season,  of  his  bringing  more 
than  each  man  could  have  carried  on  his  back,  "  When  I 
fleeted,"  says  Hampton,  "  that  in  throwing  myself  upon  yoi 
scanty  means,  I  should  be  weakening  you  in  your  most  vulnera- 
ble point,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  adopt  the  opinion,  after  consult- 
ing the  general  and  principal  officers,  that  by  throwing  mysel1 
back  on  my  main  depot,  when  all  the  means  of  transportation  ha< 
gone,  and  falling  upon  the  enemy's  flank,  and  straining  ever 
effort  to  open  a  communication  from  Plattsburg  to  Coghnawaga, 
or  any  other  point  you  may  indicate  on  the  St.  Lawrence, 
should  more  effectually  contribute  to  your  success,  than  by  the 
junction  at  St.  Regis.  The  way  is  in  many  places  blockaded  anc" 
abatted,  and  the  road  impracticable  for  wheel  carriages  during 
winter — but  by  the  employment  of  pack  horses,  if  I  am  not  over- 
powered, I  hope  to  be  able  to  prevent  your  starving.  I  have  ascer- 
tained and  witnessed  that  the  plan  of  the  enemy  is  to  burn  and 
consume  every  thing  in  our  advance.  My  troops  and  other 
means  will  be  described  to  you  by  colonel  Atkinson.  Besides 
the  rawness  and  sickness,  they  have  endured  fatigues  equal  to  a 
winter  campaign,  in  the  late  snows  and  bad  weather,  and  are 
sadly  dispirited  and  fallen  off;  but  upon  this  subject  I  must  re- 
fer you  to  colonel  Atkinson.  With  these  means — what  can  be 
accomplished  by  human  exertion,  I  will  attempt — with  a  mind 
devoted  to  the  general  objects  of  the  campaign." 

$  6.  Hampton's  letter  was  immediately  submitted  to  a  coun- 
cil ot  war,  composed  of  the  general  officers  and  the  colonel  com- 
manding the  elite,  the  chief  engineer,  and  the  adjutant-general, 
who  unanimously  gave  it  as  their  opinion,  that  "  the  attack  on 
Montreal  should  be  abandoned  for  the  present  season,  and  the 
army  near  Cornwall  should  be  immediately  crossed  to  the  Ame- 
rican shore  for  taking  up  winter  quarters,  and  that  this  place  af- 
forded an  eligible  position  for  such  quarters."  This  opinion 
was  acquiesced  in  by  Wilkinson,  not,  he  states,  from  the  want 
of  provisions,  because  they  could,  in  case  of  extremity,  have 
lived  on  the  enemy,  but  because  the  loss  of  the  division  under 


§?.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  115 

general  Hampton  weakened  his  force  too  sensibly  to  justify  the 
attempt. 

The  army  remained  on  the  Canada  shore  until  the  next  day, 
without  seeing  the  enemy,  and  then  crossed  over  and  went  into 
winter  quarters  at  French  mills,  near  St.  Regis,  on  the  borders 
of  Lower  Canada. 

§  7-  Meanwhile  general  Harrison,  having  embarked  at  De- 
troit, with  those  of  his  troops  whose  term  of  service  had  not  ex- 
pired, or  who  were  not  considered  necessary  for  the  defence  of 
the  country  he  had  overrun,  arrived  at  Buffalo  towards  the  end 
of  October,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  Fort  George.  Gen- 
eral Wilkinson  having  previously  gone  down  the  lake,  and  the 
fleet  not  having  arrived  for  the  transportation  of  Harrison's 
troops,  arangements  were  made  by  him  and  general  M'Clure, 
whom  he  found  in  the  command  of  Fort  George,  for  an  expedi- 
tion against  Burlington  Heights,  at  the  head  of  lake  Ontario. 
Before  the  completion  of  these  arrangements,  however,  commo- 
dore Chauncey  arrived  with  orders  immediately  to  bring  down 
Harrison's  troops,  and  the  navigation  at  this  season  being  dan- 
gerous, the  general  reluctantly  relinquished  the  expedition,  fur- 
ther delay  in  proceeding  down  the  lake  being  considered,  im- 
practicable. The  troops  were  accordingly  embarked  about  the 
middle  of  November,  a  few  davs  after  Wilkinson  had  moved 
his  army  into  winter-quarters  at  French  Mills.  Had  this  cir- 
cumstance, which  might  have  been  communicated  in  a  fourth  of 
the  time  necessary,  by  a  line  of  telegraphs,  been  known  at  the 
place  of  embarkation,  what  a  series  of  disasters  would  have  been 
avoided ! 

After  the  departure  of  General  Harrison,  the  force  at  Fort 
George,  under  general  M'Clure,  consisted  almost  exclusively  of 
militia  and  volunteers,  whose  term  of  service  was  on  the  point 
of  expiring.  The  contemplated  expedition  against  Burlington 
Heights  was  once  more  undertaken,  but  the  roads  were  found 
cut  up  in  such  a  manner,  and  so  obstructed  by  timber,  that  it 
was  found  impracticable  to  transport  the  artillery,  and  accord- 
in  glvit  was  abandoned. 

The  abandonment  of  this  expedition  excited  much  dissatis- 
faction at  Fort  George,  especially  among  the  volunteers,  many 
of  whom  had  made  considerable  sacrifices  to  join  the  army,  in 
the  hope  of  being  usefully  and  actively  employed.  Their  term 
of  service  now  expiring,  M'Clure  used  every  effort  to  engage 
them  to  remain  for  one  or  two  months  longer,  but  in  vain.  He 
was  left  on  the  10th  of  December  with  not  more  tlv.n  sixty  ef- 
fective regulars  to  garrison  Fort  George.  A  council  of  officers 
was  then  held,  who  were  unanimously  of  opinion  that  the  fort 


116  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.      [CHAP.  vni. 

should  be  immediately  evacuated,  the  advance  of  the  enemy, 
who  by  some  means  had  obtained  information  of  the  state  of 
the  place,  being  within  eight  miles.  Orders  were  accordingly 
given  to  transport  all  the  arms,  ammunition,  and  public  stores  of 
every  description  across  the  river,  which  was  principally  effect- 
ed, though  the  enemy  approached  so  rapidly  that  ten  of  the  sol- 
diers were  made  prisoners.  The  fort  was  blown  up,  and  the 
town  of  Newark,  a  handsome  little  place  of  about  200  houses, 
situated  a  mile  below  the  fort,  was  laid  in  ashes.  "  This  act," 
-general  M'Clure  declares,  "  as  distressing  to  the  inhabitants  as 
to  my  feelings,  was  by  an  order  of  the  secretary  at  war."  "  The 
inhabitants  had  twelve  hours  notice  to  remove  their  effects,  and 
such  as  chose  to  come  across  the  river  were  provided  with  all 
the  necessaries  of  life."  The  only  reason*  that  we  have  seen 
assigned  for  this  outrage  is  by  no  means  satisfactory  :  "  that  the 
enemy  might  not  have  it  in  their  power  to  quarter  with  their  In- 
dian allies  in  the  village,  and  maraud  and  murder  our  citizens," 
and  we  are  much  pleased  to  see  that  the  act  is  almost  universally 
disapproved  of. 

§  8.  On  the  19th  of  December,  about  4  in  the  morning,  the 
British  crossed  the  river,  a  few  miles  above  Fort  Niagara,  and 
succeeded  in  taking  the  place  by  storm  about  an  hour  before  day- 
break. The  fort  appears  to  have  been  completely  surprised. 
The  men  were  nearly  all  asleep  in  their  tents,  when  the  enemy 
'  rushed  in,  and  commenced  a  dreadful  slaughter.  Such  as  es- 
caped the  fury  of  the  first  onset,  retired  to  the  old  mess-house, 
where  they  kept  up  a  fire  on  the  enemy,  until  a  want  of  ammu- 
uition  compelled  them  to  surrender.  This  disaster  is  attributed, 
and  with  but  too  much  appearance  of  probability,  to  gross  neglect 
or  treasonable  connivance  on  the  part  of  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  fort,  who  is  stated  to  have  been  absent  at  the  time  it  took 
place,  notwithstanding  the  attack  was  expected,  as  appears  from 
the  general  orders  issued  by  M'Clure  a  few  days  previous. 

§  9.  After  the  capture  of  the  fort,  the  British  with  a  large 
body  of  Indians  proceeded  up  the  river  as  far  as  Lewistown, 
and,  having  driven  off  a  detachment  of  militia  station  at  Lewis- 
town  Heights,  burnt  that  village,  and  those  of  Youngstown  and 
Manchester,  and  the  Indian  Tuscarora  village.  A  number  of 
the  inoffensive  inhabitants  are  said  to  have  been  butchered  by  the 
savages.  On  the  30th  another  detachment  of  the  British  and 
Indians  crossed  the  Niagara,  near  Black  Rock.  They  were 
met  by  the  militia  under  general  Hall ;  but,  overpowered  by 
numbers,  and  the  discipline  of  the  enemy,  the  militia  soon  gave 
v,  ay  and  fled  on  every  side,  and  every  attempt  to  rally  them  was 
ineffectual.  The  enemy  then  set  fire  to  Black  Rock,  when  they 


$9.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  117 

proceeded  to  Buffaloe,  which  they  likewise  laid  in  ashes,  thus 
completing  the  desolation  of'  the  whole  of  the  Niagara  frontier, 
as  a  retaliation  for  the  burning  of  Newark. 

Serious  apprehensions  were  entertained  for  the  safety  of  the 
fleet  at  Erie  ;  the  enemy,  however,  did  not  attempt  to  pene- 
trate further  at  the  moment,  and  a  sufficient  force  was  soon 
collected  for  its  defence,  which  will  remain  during  the  winter. 


•118  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  ix. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


§  1.  Events  on  the  southern  frontier.  §  2.  Seizure  of  Mobile. 
War  with  the  Creek  Indians.  §4.  Capture  of  Fort  Minns. 
Battle  of  Tallushatches.  §  6  Battle  of  Talledega.  §  7.  Destruction, 
of  the  Hillibee  towns.  §  8.  Battle  of  Autossee.  §  9.  Expedition  to  the 
Tallapoosie  river.  §  10.  Prospects  of  Peace.  §  11.  Retaliation. 
§  12.  Correspondence  on  the  employment  of  the  Indians. 

$  1.  WHILE  active  operations  were  thus  carried  on,  on  the 
north  and  north-western  frontier  of  the  United  States,  the 
calamities  of  war  began  to  extend  to  the  southern  portion. 
In  the  summer  of  1813  the  Creek  nation  commenced  hostili- 
ties by  an  attack  on  Fort  Mims,  a  post  upon  the  Tensaw  river. 
Before  we  enter  on  a  narrative  of  the  events  of  this  war, 
however,  it  will  be  proper  to  notice  another  important  event 
which  took  place  in  this  quarter,  in  the  month  of  April; 
namely,  the  surrender  of  Mobile  to  the  arms  of  the  United 
States. 

§  2.  By  the  treaty  of  St.  Ildefonso,  concluded  on  the  1st 
of  October,  180O,  between  France  and  Spain,  the  latter,  in 
consideration  of  certain  stipulations  in  favour  of  the  duke  of 
Parma,  ceded  to  the  French  republic  "  the  colony  or  pro- 
vince of  Louisiana,  with  the  same  extent  that  it  now  has  in 
the  hands  of  Spain,  and  that  it  had  when  France  possessed 
it ;  and  such  as  it  should  be  after  the  treaties  subsequently 
entered  into  between  Spain  and  other  states."  By  a  treaty 
concluded  at  Paris,  on  the  3Oth  of  April,  1803,  France  ceded 
to  the  United  States,  the  territory  she  had  acquired  by  the 
treaty  of  St.  Ildefonso,  "  as  fully  and  in  the  same  manner 
as  they  have  been  acquired  by  the  French  republic."  In 
virtue  of  the  above-mentioned  treaties,  the  United  States 
claimed,  as  the  southern  portion  of  Louisiana,  all  the  coun- 
try lying  between  the  Sabine  and  Perdido  rivers.  The  Span- 
ish government,  however,  resisted  this  claim,  and  contended 
that  its  eastern  boundary  was  the  river  Mississippi,  and  the 
lakes  Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain.  This  country  has  ac- 
cordingly been  the  subject  of  negociation  for  several  years, 
between  the  American  and  Spanish  governments,  the  latter 
still  holding  possession  of  the  country.  This  negociation 
was  put  an  end  to  by  the  troubles  which  took  place  in  old 
Spain,  in  1807;  and  a  revolution  breaking  out  in  Florida, 


ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  113 

the  United  States,  on  the  ground  that  Spain  could  no  longer 
hold  possession  of  the  country,  and  that  her  rights  would  be 
jeopardized  or  lost,  by  suffering  it  to  pass  into  the  hands  of 
a  third  party  (the  revolutionists),  on  whom  they  could  have 
no  claim,  took  possession  of  the  whole  of  the  disputed  coun- 
try, in  1812,  except  the  post  of  Mobile,  a  small  fortified 
town  of  about  400  inhabitants,  situated  on  the  west  side  of 
Mobile  bay,  which  continued  to  be  held  by  a  Spanish  garrison 
until  the  15th  of  April,  1813,  when  it  was  summoned  to 
surrender  to  the  arms  of  the  United  States,  under  general 
Wilkinson,  which  was  immediately  done  without  the  slightest 
opposition. 

\  3.  The  country  of  the  Creek  Indians,  with  whom  the 
United  States  is  nDw  at  war,  is  situated  in  the  western  part 
of  the  state  of  Georgia,  and  the  eastern  part  of  the  Missis- 
sippi territory,  between  the  Apalachy  and  Alabama  rivers, 
and  extends  from  Tennessee  to  Florida.  In  the  course  of 
the  last  summer,  several  families  were  murdered,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio  river,  by  a  party  of  Indians  passing  from 
the  great  lakes  to  the  Upper  Creeks.  The  principal  chiefs  of 
the  nation,  on  the  application  of  the  United  States'  agent, 
determined  to  punish  the  murderers  by  putting  them  to  death, 
and  a  party  of  warriors  was  appointed  to  execute  their  deter- 
mination. This  was  no  sooner  done,  than  the  resentment  of 
the  friends  of  the  murderers  broke  out  in  acts  of  .open  vio- 
lence against  all  who  had  been  in  any  way  concerned  in 
causing  the  murderers  to  be  put  to  death,  and  a  civil  war 
was  the  consequence.  It  appears,  however,  that  this  cir- 
cumstance only  produced  a  premature  disclosure  of  their  ob- 
ject, as  it  has  since  been  ascertained  that  most  of  the  Upper 
Creeks  had  previously  determined  to  take  part  with  the 
them  Indians  in  their  war  with  the  United  States, 
ibout  the  middle  of  July,  the  secretary  at  war  wrote  to 
le  governor  of  Georgia,  and  at  the  same  time  transmitted  a 
copy  of  his  letter  to  the  governor  of  Tennessee,  stating,  that 
information  through  various  channels  had  reached  the  ge- 
neral government,  of  the  hostility  of  a  portion  of  the  Creek 
nation,  and  of  the  necessity  of  breaking  it  down  by  some 
prompt  and  vigorous  measures  ;  and  suggested  the  propriety 
of  embodying  a  portion  of  the  Georgia  militia,  who  should 
either  act  separately  against  the  enemy,  or  in  concert  with 
another  corps  of  militia,  drawn  from  Tennessee.  This  let- 
ter was  received  by  governor  Mitchell  in  the  end  of  July, 
whe.n  he  immediately  took  messures  for  calling  out  fifteen 
hundred  of  the  Georgia  militia,  who  were  soon  after  marched 


120  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  ix. 

to  the  Oakmulgee  river.  Their  number  was  subsequently 
enlarged  to  a  full  brigade. 

Meanwhile  appearances  became  every  day  more  threaten- 
ing. The  friendly  Indians  were  forced  to  leave  their  towns 
and  retreat  towards  the  white  settlements,  and  fortify  them- 
selves against  the  attacks  of  the  war  party.  The  latter  pro- 
ceeded in  great  numbers  to  the  south,  where  it  is  asserted 
they  were  supplied  by  the  Spanish  governor  of  Pensacola 
with  arms  and  ammunition.  At  last,  upon  the  30th  of 
August,  they  commenced  hostilities  against  the  United 
States,  by  an  attack  upon  Mim's  fort,  on  the  Tensaw,  a 
branch  of  the  Mobile  river,  in  the  Mississippi  territory, 
commanded  by  major  Beasley. 

§  4.  Information  had  been  received  about  a  week  previous, 
that  a  large  number  of  Indians  were  approaching  with  hos- 
tile intentions,  but  the  attack  was  wholly  unexpected  at  the 
moment  it  occurred,  which  was  about  eleven  in  the  fore- 
noon. The  whole  garrison,  however,  was  immediately  un- 
der arms.  The  front  gate  being  open,  the  enemv  ran  in 
great  numbers  to  possess  themselves  of  it,  and  in  the  con- 
test for  it  many  fell  on  both  sides.  Soon,  however,  the  ac- 
tion became  general,  the  enemy  fighting  on  all  sides  in  the 
open  field,  and  as  near  the  stockade  as  thev  could  get.  The 
port-holes  were  taken  and  retaken  several  times.  A  block- 
house was  contended  for  by  captain  Jack,  at  the  head  of  his 
riflemen,  for  the  space  of  an  hour  after  the  enemy  were  in 
possession  of  part  of  it ;  when  they  finally  succeeded  in  driv- 
ing his  company  into  a  house  in  the  fort,  and,  having  stop- 
ped many  of  the  port-holes  with  the  ends  of  rails,  possessed 
themselves  of  the  walls.  The  troops  made  a  most  gallant 
defence  from  the  houses,  but  the  enemy  having  set  fire  to  the 
roofs,  and  the  attempt  to  extinguish  it  proving  unsuccessful, 
the  few  who  now  remained  alive  attempted  a  retreat,  having 
previously  thrown  into  the  flames  many  of  the  guns  of  the 
dead.  Few,  however,  succeeded  in  escaping.  Major  Beasley 
fell  gallantly  fighting  at  the  head  of  his  command,  near  the  gate, 
at  the  commencement  of  the  action.  The  other  officers  fell 
nobly  doing  their  duty ;  the  non-commissioned  officers  and 
soldiers  behaved  equally  well. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  great :  sixty-five,  including 
officers  and  men,  of  the  Mississippi  territory  volunteers,  and 
twenty-seven  volunteer  militia,  were  killed.  Many  respec- 
table citizens,  with  numerous  families,  who  had  abandon- 
ed their  farms,  and  fled  to  the  fort  for  security,  were  also 
killed,  or  burnt  in  the  houses  into  which  they  fled.  A*  de- 


j  5.1  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  121 

1     J 

tachment  which  was  sent  from  cantonment  Mount  Vernon, 
on  the  21st  of  September,  to  collect  the  bones  of  their  coun- 
trymen, collected,  and  consigned  to  the  earth,  247  persons, 
including  men,  women,  and  children.  The  detachment  like- 
wise searched  the  woods  for  bodies,  where  they  found  at 
least  100  dead  Indians,  who  were  covered  with  rails,  brush, 
&c.  These  Indians  had  been  interred  with  their  war-dresses 
and  implements,  by  which  they  were  recognized. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  disastrous  intelligence  of  the  de- 
struction of  major  Beasley's  garnson,  preparations  were  im- 
mediately made  for  collecting  a  large  force  of  Tennessee 
militia,  and  providing  supplies  for  those  of  Georgia,  which 
had  already  assembled.  The  Tennessee  militia  were  marched 
in  two  divisions,  under  the  orders  of  major-generals  Jack- 
son and  Cocke. 

$  5.  On  the  2tl  of  November,  major-general  Jackson  dis- 
patched brigadier- general  Coffee  from  the  camp  at  Ten-Is- 
lands, with  900  men,  consisting  of  cavalry  and  mounted 
riflemen,  on  an  expedition  against  the  Tallushatches  towns, 
where  a  considerable  force  of  the  Creeks  was  concentrated. 
Coffee  arrived  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  town,  on  the 
morning  of  the  3d,  where  he  divided  his  force  into  two  di- 
visions, and  directed  them  to  march  so  as  completely  to  en- 
circle the  town,  which  was  effected  in  a  masterly  manner. 
When  they  arrived  within  about  half  a  mile  of  the  towns, 
the  enemy  began  to  prepare  for  action,  which  was  announced 
by  the  beating  of  their  drums,  mingled  with  savage  yells. 
About  an  hour  after  sun-rise  the  action  was  brought  on  by 
two  companies  who  had  gone  within  the  circle  of  alignment, 
for  the  purpose  of  drawing  the  enemy  out  from  , their  build- 
ings. As  soon  as  the  two  companies  exhibited  their  front  in 
view  of  the  town,  and  gave  a  few  scattering  si  ot,  the  ene- 
my formed  and  made  a  violent  charge  upon  them,  on  which 
they  gave  way,  and  were  followed  by  the  Indians,  until  they 
reached  the  main  body,  who  immediately  opened  a  general 
fire,  and  then  charged.  The  Indians  now,  in  their  turn,  re- 
treated firing,  until  they  got  around  and  in  their  buildings, 
when  they  made  a  most  determined  resistance,  fighting  to 
the  very  last  moment,  as  long  as  they  could  stand  or  sit,  not 
one  shrinking  or  complaining ;  not  one  asking  for  quarter. 
Every  warrior  in  the  town  was  killed,  and  all  the  women  and 
.children  were  taken  prisoners,  except  a  few  who  were  unin- 
tentionally slain,  in  consequence  of  the  men  flying  to  the 
houses  and  mixing  with  their  families,  and  at  the  same  time 
refusing  quarter. 

VOL.  I.  PART   Ir.  Q 


122       ,       •  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP,  i 

The  number  found  killed  of  the  enemy  was  186,  and  a 
number  of  others  were  killed  in  the  woods,  who  were  not 
found.  The  number  of  women  and  children  taken  was 
eighty-four.  Of  the  Americans,  five  were  killed,  and  forty- 
one  wounded,  the  greater  part  slightly,  none  mortally  ;  two 
of  the  killed  were  with  arrows,  which  appeared  to  form  a 
principal  part  of  the  arms  of  the  Indians  on  this  occasion, 
every  man  having  a  bow,  with  a  bundle  of  arrows,  which  he 
used  after  the  first  fire  with  his  gun,  until  a  leisure  time  for 
loading  offered. 

Coffee  bestows  much  praise  on  his  men,  for  their  deliber- 
ation and  firmness.  "  Notwithstanding  our  numbers,"  says 
he,  "  were  far  superior  to  that  of  the  enemy,  it  was  a  cir- 
cumstance to  us  unknown,  and  from  the  parade  of  the  enemy 
we  had  every  reason  to  suppose  them  our  equals  in  number ; 
but  there  appeared  no  visible  traces  of  alarm  in  any,  cm  the 
contrary,  all  appeared  cool  and  determined ;  and,  no  doubt, 
when  they  face  a  foe  of  their  own,  or  of  superior  number, 
they  will  show  the  same  courage  as  on  this  occasion." 

The  following  day  general  Coffee  returned  with  his  detach- 
ment to  the  camp. 

()  6.  Late  on  the  evening  of  the  7th  a  friendly  Indian  ar- 
rived at  the  camp,  who  brought  intelligence  that  the  enemy 
had  arrived  in  great  numbers  at  Talledega,  about  thirty 
miles  below  the  camp,  where  one  hundred  and  sixty  men 
of  the  friendly  Creeks  had  erected  a  fort,  the  more  effectu- 
ally to  resist  the  eiforts  of  the  hostile  party,  and  where  they 
were  now  stationed  with  their  wives  and  children.  The  mes- 
senger represented  that,  unless  speedy  relief  could  be  obtain- 
ed from  the  armv,  the  fort  would  certainly  be  taken.  Gene- 
ral Jackson  immediately  gave  orders  for  taking  up  the  line  of 
march,  with  twelve  hundred  infantry  and  eight  hundred  ca- 
valry and  mounted  riflemen,  leaving  behind  the  j.ick,  the 
wounded,  and  the  baggage,  with  a  sufficient  force  for  their 
protection-  By  twelve  o'clock  that  night  the  army  was  in 
motion,  and  commenced  crossing  the  river  "opposite  the  en- 
campment, which  was  effected  in  a  few  hours,  and  on  the 
night  of  the  8th  the  army  was  encamped  within  six  miK 
the  enemy.  At  eleven  that  night  a  soldier  and  two  Indians, 
who  had  been  sent  forward  to  reconnoitre,  returned  with  the 
intelligence  that  the  enemy  were  encamped  within  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  of  the  fort ;  but  they  had  not  been  able  to  approach 
near  enough  to  ascertain  either  their  number  or  precise  situ- 
ation. At  midnight  the  adjutant-general  was  ordered  to  pre- 


ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  123 

pare  the  line  of  march,  and  by  four  o'clock  the  army  was  in 
motion. 

The  infantry  marched  in  three  columns ;  the  cavalry  and 
mounted  riflemen  were  in  the  rear,  with  flankers  on  each 
wing.  The  advance  consisted  of  a  company  of  artillery  with 
muskets,  and  two  companies  of  riflemen.  A  company  of 
spies  marched  four  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  wholt%  to 
bring  on  the  engagement.  Havingarrived  within  a  mile  of  the 
enemy  at  seven  o'clock,  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  cavalry 
and  mounted  riflemen  were  placed  in  the  rear  of  the  centre, 
ns  a  Corp.?  de  reserve,  and  the  remainder  were  ordered  to  ad- 
vance on  the  right  and  left  of  the  infantry,  and,  after  having 
encircled  the  enemy,  by  uniting  the  fronts  of  their  columns, 
and  keeping  their  rear  connected  with  the  infantry,  to  face 
and  press  inwards  towards  the  centre,  so  as  to  leave  the  ene- 
my no  possibility  of  escape.  The  infantry  were  ordered  to 
advance  by  heads  of  companies,  general  Hall's  brigade  occu- 
pying the  right,  and  general  Roberts's  the  left. 

About  eight  o'clock  the  advance,  having  arrived  within 
eighty  yards  of  the  enemy,  who  were  concealed,  in  a  thicl 
shrubbery  which  covered  the  margin  of  a  rivulet,  received 
from  them  a  heavy  fire,  which  they  immediately  returned, 
and  then  charged  and  dislodged  them  from  their  position. 
The  advance  now  fell  back,  as  thev  had  been  previously  or- 
dered, to  the  centre.  On  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  three 
of  the  militia  companies,  having  given  one  fire,  commenced  a 
retreat,  notwithstanding  the  utmost  exertions  of  their  officers. 
To  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  this  retreat,  Jackson  imme- 
diately ordered  up  a  regiment  of  volunteers  ;  but  finding  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  too  rapid  to  admit  of  their  arrival  in 
time,  the  reserve  was  ordered  to  dismount  and  meet  them. 
This  order  was  executed  with  great  promptitude  and  gallan- 
try, and  the  retreating  militia,  seeing  the  spirited  stand  made 
by  the  reserve,  immediately  rallied,  and  recovering  thtir  po- 
sition, poured  in  upon  the  enemy  a  most  destructive  fire. 
The  engagement  now  became  general ;  and  in  fifteen  minutes 
the  Indians  were  seen  flying  in  every  direction.  On  the  left 
they  were  met  and  repulsed  by  the  mounted  riflemen  ;  but  on 
the  right  it  unfortunately  happened  that  too  great  a  space  had 
been  left  between  the  cavalry  and  infantry,  by  which  numbers 
escaped.  They  were  pursued,  however,  for  three  miles  to  the 
mountains  with  great  slaughter. 

The  force  of  the  enemy  was  represented  by  themselves  at 
a  thousand  and  eighty,  two  hundred  and  ninety-nine  of  whom 
were  left  dead  on  the  ground,  and  a  great  many  were  killed 


124  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.         [CHAP. 

in  their  flight.  It  is  believed  that  very  few  escaped  without  a 
wound,  'The  American  loss  was  fifteen  k 'filed  and  eighty 
wounded. 

§  7.  On  the  llth  of  November,  general  Cocke,  whocom- 
ma:;d-.id  the  other  division  of  the  Tennessee  militia,  ordered 
brigadier-general  White,  with  a  detachment  of  mounted  in- 
iantrv  and  cavalry,  to  procf cd  from  Foit  Armstrong,  where 
this  division  was  stationed,  on  an  expedition  against  the  Hil- 
e  towns  of  the  hostile  Creeks  on  the  Tallapoosie  river. 
This  expedition  was  completely  successful.  They  penetrated 
one  hundred  miles  into  the  enemy's  country,  and  burned  four 
of  their  villages,  three  ot  which  they  found  deserted.  Previ- 
ous to  their  arrival  at  the  fourth,  they  learned  that  a  party  of 
the  hostile  Creeks  were  assembled  there.  Having  marched 
the  whole  of  the  night  of  the  17th,  they  surrounded  and  com- 
pletely surprised  the  town  at  day-light  of  the  morning  of  the 
18th,  and  of  the  whole  party,  which  consisted  of  three  hun- 
dred and  sixteen,  not  one  escaped,  sixty  being  killed  and  the 
remainder  made  prisoners.  The  detachment  now  returned 
to  camp,  where  they  arrived  on  the  23u,  having  lost  not  one 
drop  o:  blood  in  this  enterprise.  The  country  through  which 
the\  marched  was  exceedingly  rough  and  hilly,  and  they  had 
to  pass  several  narrow  defiles,  where  it  was  necessary  to  use 
the  utmost  precaution.  The  troops  and  horses,  likewise,  had 
to  be  subsisted,  in  a  great  degree,  on  such  supplies  as  could 
be  procured  in  the  enemy's  country,  which  rendered  their 
march  more  tardv  than  it  would  otherwise  have  been. 

The  Georgia  militia,  though  embodied  before  those  of  Ten- 
nessee, were  not  able,  from  the  want  of  military  supplies,  to 
proceed  to  active  operations  till  the  end  of  November.  Bri- 
gadu-r-g  neral  Stewart  had  been  originally  destined  for  the 
command,  as  the  senior  brigadier;  but  .family  considerations 
inducing  him  to  decline  its  acceptance,  brigadier-general 
Floyd  was  appointed  in  his  room. 

$  8.  Towards  the  end  of  November  Floyd  received  in- 
formation Uuit  numbers  of  the  hostile  Indians  were  assembled 
at  Autosste,  a  town  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  Tallapoosie 
river,  about  twenty  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Coosa. 
He  immediately  left  his  camp,  which  was  situated  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Chatahouchie  river,  and  proceeded  against  the 
enemy  wiih  nine  hundred  and  fifty  militia,  and  between  three 
and  four  hundred  of  'the  friendly  Creeks.  On  the  evening 
of  the  28ih  the  detachment  encamped  within  nine  or  ten  miles 
of  the  place  of  destination,  and  having  resumed  their  march 
about  one  next  morning,  at  half  past  six  they  were  formed  for 


>  *.j  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  125 

action  in  front  of  the  town.  The  detachment  was  formed  in 
two  columns,  with  a  rifle  company  on  each  flank,  and  a' com- 
pany of  artillery  in  front  of  the  right  column. 

It  was  Floyd's  intention  to  have  completely  surrounded  the 
enemy,  by  resting  the  right  wing  of  his  force  on  Canleehee 
creek,  at  the  mouth  of  which  he  was  informed  their  town 
stood,  and  resting  his  left  on  the  river  bank  below  the  town  ; 
but  to  his  surprise-,  as  the  day  dawned,  he  perceived  a  second 
town  about  500  yards  below  that  which  he  was  preparing  to 
attack.  The  plan,  therefore,  was  instantly  changed ;  three 
companies  of  infantry  on  the  left  were  wheeled  to  the  left  en 
echelon*,  and  advanced  to  the  lower  town,  accompanied  by  a 
rifle  company  and  two  troops  of  light  dragoons.  The  remain- 
der of  the  force  approached  the  upper  town,  and  the  battle 
soon  became  general.  The  Indians  presented  themselves 
at  every  point,  and  fought  with  desperate  bravery ;  but  the 
well-directed  fire,  of  the  artillery  and  the  bayonets  of  the  in- 
fantry soon  forced  them  to  take  refuge  in  the  out-houses, 
thickets,  and  copses  in  the  rear  of  the  town.  Many,  it  was 
supposed,  secured  themselves  in  caves,  previously  formed  for 
this  purpose  in  the  high  bluff  of  the  river,  which  was  thickly 
covered  with  reeds  and  brush -wood.  It  was  intended  that 
the  friendly  Indians  should  have  crossed  the  river  above  the 
town,  and  been  posted  on  the  opposite  shore  during  the  ac- 
tion, to  fire  on  such  of  the  enemy  as  should  attempt  to  escape, 
or  to  keep  in  cheek  any  reinforcements  which  might  be  at- 
tempted to  be  thrown  in  from  the  neighbouring  towns.  Ow- 
ing to  the  difficulty  of  the  ford,  however,  and  the  coldness  of 
the  weather  and  lateness  of  the  hour,  this  arrangement  failed, 
and  their., leaders  were  directed  to  cross  Canleebee  creek,  and 
occupy  that  flank,  to  prevent  escapes  from  the  Tallisee  town. 
Some  time  after  the  action  commenced,  the  friendly  Indians 
thronged  in  disorder  in  the  rear  of  the  militia,  when  the  hos- 
tile tribes  fell  on  the  flanks  of  the  detachment  and  fought 
with  great  intrepidity.  By  nine  o'clock,  however,  the  enemy 
was  completely  driven  from  the  plains,  and  the  houses  of 
both  towns  wrapped  in  flame's. 

It  was  impossible  to  determine  the  strength  of  the  enemy, 
but  from  the  information  of  some  of  the  chiefs,  which  it  is 
said  could  be  relied  on,  there  were  assembled  at  Autossee 
warriors  from  eight  towns  for  its  defence,  it  being  their  belo- 

*  A  position  in  which  each  division  follows  the  preceding1  one,  like  the 
steps  of  a  ladder  (ec/ielle),  from  which  the  word  is  derived.  A  position 
en  echelon  is  convenient  in  removing  from  a  direct  to  an  oblique  or  diago- 
nal line. — Dunne's  Military  Dictionary. 


520  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  ix. 

ved  ground,  on  which  they  proclaimed  no  white  man  could 
approach  without  inevitable  destruction.  Neither  was  it  pos- 
p.ible  to  ascertain  their  loss  ;  but  from  the  number  which  were 
lying  scattered  over  the  field,  together  with  those  destroyed 
in  the  towns,  and  those  slain  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  whom 
respectable  officers  affirmed  they  saw  lying  in  heaps  at  the 
water's  edge,  where  they  had  been  precipitated  by  their  sur- 
viving friends,  their  loss,  in  killed  alone,  must  have  been  at 
least  200,  among  whom  were  the  Autossee  and  Tallisee  kings. 
The  number  of  buildings  burnt  is  supposed  to  be  400  ;  some 
of  them  were  of  a  superior  order  for  the  dwellings  of  sava- 
ges, and  filled  wirh  valuable  articles.  The  Americans  had  ele- 
ven killed  and  fifty-four  wounded,  among  the  latter  was  ge- 
neral Floyd. 

The  detachment  being  now  sixty  miles  from  nny  depot  of 
provisions,  and  their  rations  pretty  nearlv  consumed,  as  soon 
as  the  dead  and  wounded  were  properly  disposed  of,  the  place 
was  abandoned,  and  the  troops  commenced  their  march  back 
to  the  camp  on  the  Chatahouchie,  a  measure  the  more  neces- 
sary as  they  were  in  the  heart  of  an  enemy's  country,  which 
in  a  few  days  could  have  poured  from  its  numerous  towns 
hosts  of  warriors.  They  arrived  at  the  camp  in  safety,  having 
marched  120  miles  in  seven  days. 

§  9.  On  the  9th  of  December  another  detachment  of  the 
Georgia  militia,  consisting  of  about  530  men,  under  the  com- 
mand of  general  Adams,  marched  on  an  expedition  against 
the  Creek  towns  on  the  Tallapoosie  river.  Notwithstanding 
the  precautions  which  they  used  to  prevent  the  Indians  from 
hearing  of  their  approach,  they  found  the  villages  deserted,  and 
were  unable  to  bring  the  enemy  to  action,  though  their  yells 
were  repeatedly  heard  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  Having 
burnt  two  of  their  villages,  therefore,  the  detachment  return- 
ed to  camp. 

§  10.  From  the  decisive  nature  of  the  victories  which  have 
been  gained  over  the  Creek  Indians,  a  peace  may  soon  be  ex- 
pected, as  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  they  sincerely  repent 
having  commenced  hostilities.  As  an  evidence  of  their  re- 
turning disposition  for  peace,  it  is  stated,  that  after  the  battle 
of  Talledega,  they  liberated  several  of  the  friendly  Indians 
whom  they  had  made  prisoners. 

With  Great  Britain,  too,  some  slight  prospects  have  appeared 
of  returning  peace.  Negotiations  are  about  to  be  entered  into, 
which  may  possibly  produce  that  happv  result.  But  whether 
the  faint  rays  which  have  appeared  in  the  eastern  horizon  are 
the  precursors  of  the  return  of  the  glorious  sun,  or  merely  the 


11,}  ANNALS  OF. AMERICA.  ..127 

glimmerings  of  a  delusive  meteor,  we  confess  ourselves  una- 
ble to  form  a  satisfactory  conclusion.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  how- 
ever, that  the  least  effect  produced  will  be  the  staying  those 
vengeful  measures  that  have  been  threatened,  and  which,  if 
carried  into  effect,  would  have  a  tendency  far  to  remove  the 
reconciliation  so  ardently  wished  for  by  the  moderate  pure 
of  both  countries,  and  engender  a  spirit  of  hostility  which  it 
might  require  ages  to  remove.  It  will  be  perceived  that  we 
allude  to  the  retaliatory  measures  which  have  been  threatened 
by  the  two  governments. 

§11.  Twenty-three  of  the  American  soldiers  who  were 
made  prisoners  at  the  battle  of  Queenstown,  in  the  autumn-  of 
1812,  were  sent  to  England,  where  they  were  detained  in. ri- 
gorous confinement  as  British  subjects.  On  this  being  made 
known  to  the  government  of  the  United  States  by  iht  Ame- 
rican commissary  of  prisoners  at  London,  orders  were  issued 
to  general  Dearborn  to  place  in  close  confinement  a  like  num- 
ber of  British  soldiers,  to  be  kept  as  hostages  for  the  safety 
and  exchange  of  the  American  prisoners.  This  order  was 
carried  into  execution  by  the  imprisonment  of  twenty-three 
of  the  prisoners  captured  at  Fort  George,  in  May  1813,  of 
which  general  Dearborn  apprised  the  governor  of  Canada  in  a 

Jr  dated  the  31st  of  that  month, 
eneral  Dearborn's  letter  was  transmitted  to  the  British 
;rnment,  who  immediately  instructed  governor  Prevost 
to  state  to  the  commander  of  the  American  forces,  for  the 
information  of  his  government,  that  he  was  commanded 
"  forthwith  to  put  in  close  confinement  forty-six  American 
officers  and  non-commissioned  officers,  to  be  held  as  hostages 
for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  twenty-three  British  soldiers  sta- 
ted to  Have  been  put  in  close  confinement  by  order  of  the 
*ierican  government. 
;  I  have  been  directed  at  the  same  time  to  apprise  you,"  con- 
tinues Prevost,  in  a  letter  to  general  Wilkinson,  "that  if  any 
of  the  said  British  soldiers  shall  suffer  death  by  reason  that  any 
of  the  said  soldiers  of  the  Linked  States  now  under  confinement 
in  England'  have  been  found  guilty,  and  that  the  known  law, 
not  only  of  Great  Britain,  but  of  every  independent  state  un- 
der similar  circumstances,  has  been  in  consequence  executed, 
that  I  have  been  further  instructed  to  select  out  of  the  Ame- 
rican officers  and  non-commissioned  officers,  whom  I  shall 
have  put  into  confinement,  as  many  as  may  double  the  num- 
ber of  the  British  soldiers  who  shall  have  been  so  unwarran- 
tably put  to  death,  and  to  cause  such  officers  and  non-com- 
missioned officers  to  suffer  death  immediately.  I  have  been 


128  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP. 

L 

further  instructed  by  his  majesty's  government  to  notifv  you, 
for  the  information  of  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
that  the  commanders  of  his  majesty's  armies  and  fleets  on  the 
coasts  of  America,  have  received  instructions  to  prosecute  the 
war  with  unmitigated  severity  against  all  cities,  towns,  and 
villages  belonging  to  the  United  States,  and  against  the  inha- 
bitants thereof,  if,  after  this  communication  shall  have  been 
made  to  you,  and  a  reasonable  time  given  for  its  being  trans- 
mitted to  the  American  government,  that  government  shall 
unhappily  not  be  deterred  from  putting  to  death  any  of  the 
soldiers  who  now  are  or  who  may  hereafter  be  kept  as  hos- 
tages for  the  purposes  stated  in  the  letter  from  major-general 
Dearborn." 

General  Wilkinson,  in  his  answer  to  general  Prevost's  let- 
ter, states,  that  he  should  immediately  transmit  a  copy  of  it  to 
the  executive  of  the  United  States.  "I  forbear,"  continued 
Wilkinson,  "  to  animadvert  on  the  acts  of  our  superiors, 
whatever  may  be  their  tendency  ;  but  you  must  pardon  me 
for  taking  exception  to  an  expression  in  your  letter.  The 
government  of  the  United  States  cannot  be  'deterred,'  by 
any  considerations  of  life  or  death,  of  depredation  or  confla- 
gration, from  the  faithful  discharge  of  its  duty  to  the  Ameri- 
can nation." 

In  a  subsequent  communication, general  Wilkinson  stated* 
that  u  the  government  of  the  United  States,  adhering  un- 
alterably to  the  principle  and  purpose  declared  in  the  com- 
munication of  general  Dearborn,  on  the  subject  of  the  twenty- 
three  American  soldiers,  prisoners  of  war,  sent  to  England 
to  be  tried  as  criminals  ;  and  the  confinement  of  a  like  num- 
ber of  British  soldiers,  prisoners  of  \var,  selected  to  abide 
the  fate  of  the  former ;  in  consequence  of  the  step  taken  by 
the  British  government,  as  now  communicated,  ordered  forty- 
six  British  officers  in  close  confinement,  and  that  they  will 
not  be  discharged  from  their  confinement,  until  it  shall  be 
known  that  the  forty-six  American  officers  and  non-com- 
missioned officers  in  question  are  no  longer  confined." 

General  Prevost,  on  the  receipt  of  this  letter,  ordered  all 
American  officers,  prisoners  of  war,  without  exception  of 
rank,  to  be  immediately  placed  in  close  confinement,  as  hos- 
tages for  the  forty-six  British  officers  so  confined,  until  the 
number  of  forty-six  be  completed,  over  and  above  those  now 
in  confinement. 

When  or  where  this  system  is  to  stop  it  is  impossible  to 
-.ay.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  however,  that  imprisonment  will  be 
the  utmost  extent  to  which  it  will  be  carried;  and  that  the 


12.]  ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  329 

negociations  about  to  commence,  will  at  least  have  the  effect 
of  preventing  the  horrid  scenes  which  are  threatened,  even 
should  they  fail  in  effecting  a  settlement  of  the  other  differ- 
ences between  the  two  countries. 

§  12.  A  very  interesting  correspondence,  upon  n  somewhat 
similar  subject,  between  general  Harrison  and  the  British 
general  Vincent,  has  lately  been  published.  After  the  cap- 
ture of  the  British  army,  in  the  battle  on  the  Thames,  ge- 
neral Proctor  sent  a  flag  with  a  letter  to  general  Harrison, 
requesting  humane  treatment  for  the  prisoners  in  his  pos- 
session, and  the  restoration  of  private  property  "and  papers. 
Harrison  addressed  his  answer  on  the  subject  to  general 
Vincent,  as  the  senior  officer. 

"  With  respect  to  the  subject  of  general  Proctor's  letter," 
says  Harrison,  "  those  which  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose 
you  from  the  British  officers,  who  were  taken  on  the  5th  ul- 
timo, to  their  friends,  and  the  report  of  Mr.  Le  Breton,  will 
satisfy  you  that  no  indulgence  which  humanity  could  claim 
in  their  favour,  or  the  usages  of  war  sanction,  has  been  with- 
held. The  disposition  of  the  property  taken  on  the  field  of 
action  or  near  it,  was  left  to  the  commanding  officer  at  De- 
troit. The  instructions  given  to  that  gentleman,  and  the  well 
known  generosity  of  his  character,  will  insure  to  the  claim- 
ants the  utmost  justice  and  liberality  in  his  decisions.  In 
making  this  statement,  I  wish  it  however  to  be  distinctly  un- 
derstood, that  my  conduct  with  regard  to  the  prisoners  and 
property  taken,  has  been  dictated  solely  by  motives  of  hu- 
manity, and  not  by  a  belief  that  it  could  be  claimed  upon  the 
score  of  reciprocity  of  treatment  towards  the;  American  pri- 
soners who  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  general  Proctor. 
The  unhappy  description  of  persons  who  have  escaped  from 
the  tomahawk  of  the  savages  in  the  employment  of  the  Bri- 
tish government,  who  fought  under  the  immediate  orders  of 
that  officer,  have  suffered  all  the  indignities  and  deprivations 
which  human  nature  is  capable  of  supporting.  Therp  4s  no 
single  instance  that  I  have  heard  of,  in  whic'h  the  property 
of  the  officers  has  been  respected.  But  I  am  far  from  be- 
lieving that  the  conduct  of  general  Proctor  has  been  thought 
an  example  worthy  of  imitation  by  the  greater  part  of  the 
British  officers ;  and  in  the  character  of  general  Vincent,  I 
have  a  pledge  that  he  will  unite  his  exertions  with  mine  to 
soften  as  much  as  possible  the  fate  of  those  whom  the  for- 
tune of  war  may  reciprocally  place  in  our  power. 

"  But,  sir,  there  is  another  subject  upon  which  I  wish  an  ex- 
plicit declaration.  Will  the  Indians  who  still  adhere  to  the 

VOL.  T.  PART  ii.  R 


130  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [CHAP.  ix. 

cause  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  be  suffered  to  continue  that 
horrible  species  of  warfare  which  they  have  heretofore  prac- 
tised against  our  troops,  and  those  still  more  horrible  depre- 
dations upon  the  peaceable  inhabitants  of  our  frontiers?  1 
have  sufficient  evidence  to  show  that  even  the  latter  have  not 
always  been  perpetrated  by  small  parties  of  vagrant  Indians, 
acting  at  a  distance  from  the  British  army.  Some  of  the 
most  atrocious  instances  have  occurred  under  the  eyes  of  the 
British  commander  and  the  head  of  the  Indian  department. 
I  shall  pass  by  the  tragedy  of  the  river  Raisin,  and  that 
equally  well  known  which  was  acted  on  the  Miami  river  af- 
ter the  defeat  of  colonel  Dudley — and  select  three  other  in- 
stances of  savage  barbarity  committed  under  the  auspices  ot 
general  Proctor. — In  the  beginning  of  June,  a  small  party  of 
Indians,  conducted  by  an  Ottowa  chief,  who  I  believe  is 
now  wi'h  the  British  armv  under  your  command,  left  Mai- 
den in  bark  canoes,  in  which  they  coasted  Lake  Erie  to  the 
mouth  of  Portage  river ;  the  canoes  were  taken  across  the 
Portage  to  the  Sandusky  bay,  over  which  the  party  proceeded 
to  the  mouth  of  Cold  creek,  and  from  thence  by  land  to  the 
settlements  upon  that  river,  where  they  captured  three  fami- 
lies, consisting  of  one  man  and  twelve  women  and  children. 
After  taking  the  prisoners  some  distance,  one  of  the  women 
was  discovered  to  be  unable  to  keep  up  with  them,  in  conse- 
quence oi  her  advanced  state  of  pregnancy.  She  was  imme- 
diately tomahawked,  stripped  naked,  her  womb  ripped  open, 
and  the  child  taken  out.  Three  or  four  of  the  children  were 
successively  butchered  as  they  discovered  their  inability  to 
keep  up  with  the  party.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  Indians  at 
Maiden,  two  or  three  of  the  prisoners  were  ransomed  by  co- 
lonel Elliott,  and  the  others  by  the  citizens  of  Detroit,  where 
they  remained  until  they  were  taken  off  by  their  friends  upon 
the  recovery  of  that  place  by  our  armv.  I  have  been  informed 
that  the  savage  chief  received  from  colonel  Elliott  a  repri- 
mand for  his  cruelty. 

"  On  the  29th  or  30th  of  the  same  month,  a  large  party  of 
Indians  were  sent  from  Maiden  on  a  war  expedition  to  Low- 
er Sandusky.  At  a  farm  house  near  that  place,  they  mur- 
dered the  whole  family,  consisting  of  a  man,  his  wife,  son ; 
and  daughter. 

"  During  the  last  attack  upon  Fort  Meigs  by  general  Proc- 
tor, a  party  headed  by  a  Seneca,  an  intimate  friend  of  Te- 
cumseh  s,  was  sent  to  endeavour  to  detach  from  our  interest 
th<  Shawanese  of  Wapockunata.  In  their  way  thither  they 
mir.dertd  several  men,  and  on.;  woman  who  was  working  in 
her  cornfield. 


$  12.  j  ,    ANNALS  OF  AMERICA.  161 

"  I  have  selected,  sir,  the  above  from  a  long  list  of  similar 
instances  of  barbarity,  which  the  history  of  the  last  fifteen 
months  could  furnish ;  because  they  were  perpetrated,  if  not 
in  the  view  of  the  British  commander,  by  parties  who  came 
immediately  from  his  camp  and  returned  to  it — who  even 
received  their  d.;ily  support  from  the  king's  stores,  who  in 
fact  (as  the  documents  in  my  possession  will  show)  form, 
part  of  his  army. 

"To  retaliate  then  upon  the  subjects  of  the  king  would  have 
been  justifiable  by  the  laws  of  war  and  the  usages  of  the 
most  civilized  nations.  To  do  so  has  been  amply  in  my 
power.  The  tide  of  fortune  has  changed  in  our  favour, 
and  an  extensive  and  flourishing  province  opened  to  our 
arms.  The  future  conduct  of  the  British  officers  will  deter- 
mine the  correctness  of  mine  in  withholding  it.  If  the  sava- 
ges should  be  again  let  loose  upon  our  settlements,  I  shall 
with  justice  be  accused  of  having  sacrificed  the  interests  and 
honour  of  my  country,  and  the  lives  of  our  fellow-citizens, 
to  feelings  of  false  and  mistaken  humanity.  You  are  a  sol- 
dier, sir,  and,  as  I  sincerely  believe,  possess  all  the  honoura- 
ble sentiments  which  ought  always  to  be  found  in  men  who 
follow  the  profession  of  arms.  Use  then,  I  pray  you,  your 
authority  and  influence  to  siop  the  dreadful  effusion  of  inno- 
cent blood  which  proceeds  from  the  employment  of  those 
savage  monsters,  whose  aid  (as  must  now  be  discovered)  is 
so  little  to  be  depended  upon  when  it  is  most  wanted,  and 
which  can  have  so  trifling  an  effect  upon  the  issue  of  the  war. 
The  effect  of  their  barbarities  will  not  be  confined  to  the  pre- 
sent generation.  Ages  yet  to  come  will  feel  the  deep  rooted 
hatred  and  enmity  which  they  must  produce  between  the 
two  nations. 

"  I  deprecate  most  sincerely  the  dreadful  alternative  which 
will  be  offered  to  me  should  they  be  continued,  but  I  solemnly 
declare,  that  if  the  Indians  that  remain  under  the  influence  of 
the  British  government  are  suffered  to  commit  any  depreda- 
tions upon  the  citizens  within  the  district  that  is  committed 
to  my  protection,  I  will  remove  the  restrictions  which  have 
hitherto  been  imposed  upon  those  who  have  offered  their 
services  to  the  United  States,  and  direct  them  to  carry  on 
the  war  in  their  own  way.  I  have  never  heard  a  single  excuse 
for  the  employment  of  the' savages  by  your  government,  un- 
less we  can  credit  the  story  of  some  British  officer  having 
dared  to  assert,  that  las  we  employed  the  Kentuckians,  you 
had  a  right  to  make  use  of  the  Indians.'  If  such  injurious 
sentiments  have  really  prevailed,  to  the  prejudice  of  a  brave, 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER.     ,   [CHAP.  IK. 

well-informed,  and  virtuous  people,  it  will  be  removed  by  the 
representations  of  your  officers  who  were  lately  taken  upon 
the  river  Thames.  They  will  inform  you,  sir,  that  so  far 
from  offering  any  violence  to  the  persons  of  their  prisoners, 
these  savages  would  not  permit  a  word  to  escape  the  m  which 
was  calculated  to  wound  or  insult  their  feelings,  and  this  too 
with  the  sufferings  of  their  friends  and  relatives  at  the  river 
Raisin  and  Miami,  fresh  upon  their  recollection. 

"  P.  S.  I  pledge  myself  for  the  truth  of  the  above  state- 
ment in  relation  to  the  murders  committed  by  the  Indians." 

General  Vincent,  in  reply,  stated,  that  "the  account  given 
of  the  British  officers,  whom  the  fortune  of  war  has  lately 
placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  United  States,  is  such,  as  can- 
not fail  affording  very  consoling  reflections  to  this  army  and 
their  anxious  friends. 

u  Though  you  must  be  sensible"  continues  he,  "  that  there 
are  several  points  in  your  letter,  respecting  which  it  is  wholly 
beyond  my  power  to  afford  you  the  satisfaction  of  an  'ex- 
plicit declaration,'  yet  be  assured,  sir,  I  shall  never  feel  the 
smallest  degree  of  hesitation  in  joining  you  in  any  pledge, 
that  it  will  ever  be  my  anxious  wish  and  endeavour  to  allevi- 
ate as  much  as  possible  the  fate  of  those  who  may  fall  into 
my  power  by  the  chances  of  war. 

"  Believe  me,  sir,  I  deprecate  as  strongly  as  yourself  the 
perpetration  of  acts  of  cruelty  committed  under  any  pretext; 
and  shall  lament  equally  with  yourself  that  any  state  of  things 
should  produce  them.  No  efforts  of  mine  will  be  ever  want- 
ing to  diminish  the  evils  of  a  state  of  warfare,  as  far  as  may 
be  consistent  with  the  duties  which  are  due  to  my  king  and 
country. 

"  The  Indians  when  acting  in  conjunction  with  the  troops 
under  my  command,  have  been  invariably  exhorted  to  mer- 
cy, and  have  never  been  deaf  to  my  anxious  entreaties  on 
this  interesting  subject. 

"I  shall  not  fail  to  transmit  the  original  of  your  letter  to 
the  lower  province,  for  the  consideration  of  his  excellency 
the  commander  of  the  forces." 


STATE  PAPERS 


OFFICIAL  LETTERS. 


AMERICAN    AND    BRITISH    MANIFESTOES. 

ressage  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  recommending 

the  Subject  of  War  to  the  Consideration  of  Congress. 
To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States. 
I  COMMUNICATE   to   Congress    certain  documents, 
being  a  continuation  of  those  heretofore  laid  before  them,  on 
e  subject  of  our  affairs  with  Great  Britain. 
Without  going  back  beyond   the  renewal  in  1803,  of  the 
.r  in  which  Great  Britain  is  engaged,  and  omitting  unre- 
red  wrongs  of  inferior  magnitude,  the  conduct  of  her  go- 
nment  presents  a  series  of  acts,  hostile  to  tht  United  States 
an  independent  and  neutral  nation. 

British  cruisers  have  been  in  the  continued  practice  of  vio- 
ng  the  American  flag  on  the  great  highway  of  nations, 
and  of  seizing  and  carrying  off  persons  sailing  under  it;  not 
the  exercise  of  a  belligerent  right,  founded  on  the  law  of 
ions  against  an  enemy,  but  of  a  municipal  prerogative 
er  British  subjects.  British  jurisdiction  is  thus  extended 
to  neutral  vessels,  in  a  situation  where  no  laws  can  operate 
but  the  law  of  nations,  and  the  laws  of  the  country  to  which 
the  vessels  belong;  and  a  self  redress  is  assumed,  which,  if 
British  subjects  were  wrongfully  detained  and  alone  concern- 
,  is  that  substitution  of  force,  for  a  resort  to  the  responsi- 
sovereign,  which  falls  within  the  definition  of  war.  Could 
e  seizure  of  British  subjects,  in  such  cases,  be  regarded  as 
within  the  exercise  of  a  belligerent  right,  the  acknowledged 
laws  of  war,  which  forbid  an  article  of  captured  property  to 
be  adjudged,  without  a  regular  investigation  before  a  compe- 
tent tribunal,  would  imperiously  demand  the  fairest  trial, 
ere  the  sacred  rights  of  persons  were  at  issue.  In  place 
such  a  trial,  these  rights  are  subjected  to  the  will  of  every 
tty  commander.' 

VOL,  T.    v  APT  11.  fBl 


2]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

The  practice,  hence,  is  so  far  from  affecting  British  SUD- 
jects  alone,  tluit  under  the  pretexts  of  searching  for  these, 
thousands  of  American  citizens,  under  the  safeguard  of  pub- 
lic law,  and  of  their  national  flag,  have  been  torn  from  their 
country,  and  from  every  thing  dear  to  them;  have  been  drag- 
ged on  board  ships  of  war  of  a  foreign  nation,  and  exposed 
under  the  severities  of  their  discipline,  to  be  exiled  to  the 
most  distant  and  deadly  climes,  to  risk  their  lives  in  the  bat- 
tles of  their  oppressors,  and  to  be  the  melancholy  instruments 
of  taking  away  those  of  their  own  brethren. 

Against  this  crying  enormity,  which  Great  Britain  would 
be  so  prompt  to  avenge  if  committed  against  herself,  the 
United  States  have  in  vain  exhausted  remonstrances  and  ex- 
postulations; and  that  no  proof  might  be  wanting  of  their 
conciliatory  dispositions,  and  no  pretext  left  for  a  continu- 
ance- of  the  practice,  the  British  government  was  formally  as- 
sured of  the  readiness  of  the  'United  States  to  enter  into  ar- 
rangements, such  as  could  not  be  rejected,  if  the  recovery  of 
British  subjects  were  the  real  and  sole  object.  The  commu- 
nication passed  without  effect. 

British  cruisers  have  been  in  the  practice  also  of  violating 
the  rights  and  the  peace  of  our  coasts.  They  hover  over  and 
harass  our  entering  and  departing  commerce.  To  the  most 
insulting  pretensions  they  have  added  the  most  lawless  pro- 
ceedings in  our  very  harbors;  and  have  wantonly  spilt  Ame- 
rican blood  within  the  sanctuary  of  our  territorial  jurisdic- 
tion. The  principles  and  rules  enforced  by  that  nation  when 
a  neutral  nation,  against  armed  vessels  of  belligerents  hover- 
ing near  her  coasts  and  disturbing  her  commerce,  are  well 
known.  When  called  on,  nevertheless,  by  the  United  States, 
to  punish  the  greater  offences  committed  by  her  own  vessels, 
her  government  has  bestowed  on  their  commanders  additional 
marks  of  honour  and  confidence. 

Under  pretended  blockades,  without  the  presence  of  an 
adequate  force,  and  sometimes  without  the  practicability  of 
applying  one,  our  commerce  has  been  plundered  in  every  sea; 
the  great  staples  of  our  country  have  been  cut  off  from  their 
legitimate  markets;  and  a.  destructive  blow  aimed  at  our  agri- 
cultural and  maritime  interests.  In  aggravation  of  these  pre- 
datory measures,  they  have  been  considered  as  in  force  from 
the  dates  of  their  notification;  a  retrospective  effect  being 
thus  added,  as  has  been  done  in  other  important  cases,  to  the 
unlawfulness  of  the  course  pursued.  And  to  render  the  out- 
rage the  more  signal,  there  m  have  been  reite- 
rated and  enforced  in  the  face  of  ofHcir.l  communications  from 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [3 

the  British  government,  declaring,  as  the  true  definition  of  a 
legal  blockade,  "  that  particular  ports  must  be  actually  invest- 
ed, and  previous  \varning  given  to  vessels  bound  to  them,  not 
to  enter." 

Not  content  with  these  occasional  expedients  for  laying 
waste  our  neutral  trade,  the  cabinet  of  Great  Britain  resorted, 
at  length,  to  the  sweeping  system  of  blockades,  under  the 
name  of  orders  in  council;  which  has  been  moulded  and 
managed  as  might  best  suit  its  political  views,  its  commer- 
cial jealousies,  or  the  avidity  of  British  cruisers. 

To  our  remonstrances  against  the  complicated  and  trans- 
cendant  injustice  of  this  innovation,  the  first  reply  was,  that 
the  orders  were  reluctantly  adopted  by  Great  Britain,  as 
a  necessary  retaliation  on  decrees  of  her  enemy,  proclaiming 
a  general  blockade  of  the  British  isles,  at  a  time  when  the  na- 
val force  of  that  enemy  dared  not  to  issue  from  his  own  ports. 
She  was  reminded,  without  effect,  that  her  own  prior  block- 
ades, unsupported  by  an  adequate  naval  force  actually  applied 
and  continued,  were  a  bar  to  this  plea:  that  executed  edicts 
against  millions  of  our  property  could  not  be  retaliation  on 
edicts,  confessedly  impossible  to  be  executed:  that  retaliation, 
to  be  just,  should  fall  on  the  party  setting  the  guilty  example, 
not  on  an  innocent  party,  which  was  not  even  chargeable  with 
an  acquiescence  in  it. 

When  deprived  of  this  flimsy  veil  for  a  prohibition  of  our 
trade  with  her  enemy,  by  the  repeal  of  his  prohibition  of  our 
trade  with  Great  Britain,  her  cabinet,  instead  of  a  correspond- 
ing repeal,  or  a  practical  discontinuance  of  its  orders,  form- 
ally avowed  a  determination  to  persist  in  them  against  the 
United  States,  until  the  markets  of  her  enemy  should  be  laid 
open  to  British  products;  thus  asserting  an  obligation  on  a 
neutral  power  to  require  one  belligerent  to  encourage,  by  its 
internal  regulations,  the  trade  of  another  belligerent;  contra- 
dicting her  own  practice  towards  all  nations,  in  peace  as  well 
as  in  war;  and  betraying  the  insincerity  of  those  professions 
which  inculcated  a  belief,  that  having  resorted  to  her  orders 
with  regret,  she  was  anxious  to  find  an  occasion  for  putting 
an  end  to  them. 

Abandoning,  still  more,  all  respect  for  the  neutral  rights  of 
the  United  States  and  for  its  own  consistency,  the  British 
government  now  demands,  as  pre-rtquisites  to  a  repeal  of  its 
orders  as  they  relate  to  the  United  States,  that  a  formality 
should  be  observed  in  the  repeal  of  the  French  decrees,  no 
wise  necessary  to  their  termination,  nor  exemplified  by  Bri- 
tish usage:  and  that  the  French  repeal,  besides  including  that 


HISTORICAL  KK< 

portion  of  tlie  decrees  which  operate  within  a  territorial  ju-> 
risdiction,  as  well  as  that  which  operates  on  the  high  seas, 
against  the  commerce  of  the  United  States,  should  not  be  a 
single  and  special  repeal  in  relation  to  the  United  States,  but 
should  be  extended  to  whatever  other  neutral  nations,  uncon- 
nected with  them,  may  be  effected  by  those  decrees.  And,  as 
an  additional  insult,  they  are  called  on  for  a  foi  mal  disavowal 
of  conditions  and  pretensions  advanced  by  the  French  go- 
vernment, for  which  the  United  States  are  so  far  from  having 
made  themselves  responsible,  that  in  official  explanations, 
which  have  been  published  to  the  world,  and  in  a  correspon- 
dence of  the  American  minister  at  London  with  the  British 
minister  for  foreign  affairs,  such  a  responsibility  was  ex- 
plicitly and  emphatically  disclaimed. 

It  has  become,  indeed,  sufficiently  certain,  that  the  com- 
merce of  the  United  States  is  to:-be  sacrificed,  not -as  inter- 
fering with  the  belligerent  right  of  Great  Britain;  not  as  sup- 
plying the  wants  of  her  enemies,  which  she  herself  supplies; 
but,  as  interfering  with  the  monopoly  which  she  covets  for 
her  own  commerce  and  navigation.  She  carries  on  a  war 
against  the  lawful  commerce  of  a  friend,  that  she  may  the 
better  carry  on  a  commerce  with  an  enemy:  a  commerce  pol- 
luted by  the  forgeries  and  perjuries,  which  are,  for  the  most 
part,  the  only  passports  by  which  it  can  succeed. 

Anxious  to  make  every  experiment,  short  of  the  last  resort 
of  injured  nations,  the   United   States  have  withheld  from 
Great  Britain,  under  successive  modifications,  the  benefits  of 
a  free  intercourse  with  their  market,  the  loss  of  which  could 
not  but  outweigh  the  profits  accruing  from  her  restrictions  of 
our  commerce  with  other  nations.    And  to  entitle  these  ex- 
periments to  the  more  favourable  consideration,  they  were  so 
framed  as  to  enable  her  to  place  her  adversary  under  the  ex- 
clusive operation  of  them.  To  these  appeals  her  government 
has  been  equally  inflexible,  as  if  willing  to  make  sacrifices  of 
every  sort,  rather  than  yield  to  the   claims  of  justice,  or  re- 
nounce the  errors  of  a  false  pride.     Nay,  so  far  were  the  at- 
tempts carried  to  overcome  the    attachment   of  the  British 
cabinet  to  its  unjust  edicts,  that  it  received  every  encourage- 
ment within  the  competency  of  the  executive   branch  of  our 
government,  to  expect  that  a  repeal  of  them  would  he-follow- 
ed by  a  war  between  the  United  States  and  France,  unless  the 
French  edicts  should  also  be  repealed.     Even  this  communi- 
cation, although  silencing  forever  the  pie;-  of  a  disposition  in 
the  United  States  to  acquiesce  in  those  edicts,  originally  the 
sole  plea  for  them,  received  no  ;: 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

If  no  other  proof  existed  of  a  predetermination  of  the 
British  government  against  a  repeal  of  its  orders,  it  might 
be  found  in  the  correspondence  of  the  minister  plenipoten- 
tiary of  the  United  States  at  London  and  the  British  secre- 
tary for  foreign  affairs,  in  1810,  on  the  question  whether 
the  blockade  of  Mav,  1806,  was  considered  as  in  force,  or  as 
not  in  force.  It  had  been  ascertained  that  the  French  govern- 
ment, which  urged  this  blockade  as  the  ground  of  its  Berlin 
decree,  was  willing,  in  the  event  of  its  removal,  to  repeal  that 
decree;  which  being  followed  by  alternate  repeals  of  the  other 
offensive  edicts,  might  abolish  the  whole  system  on  both  sides. 
This  inviting  opportunity  for  accomplishing  an  object  so  im- 
portant to  the  United  States,  and  professed  so  often  to  be  the 
desire  of  both  the  belligerents,  was  made  known  to  the  Bri- 
tish government.  As  that  government  admits  that  an  actual 
application  of  an  adequate  force,  is  necessary  to  the  existence 
of  a  legal  blockade,  and  it  was  notorious,  that  if  such  a  force 
had  ever  been  applied,  its  long  discontinuance  had  annulled 
the  blockade  in  question,  there  could  be  no  sufficient  objection 
the  part  of  Great  Britain  to  a  formal  revocation  of  it;  and 
imaginable  objection  to  a  declaration  of  the  fact,  that  the 
ckade  did  not  exist.  The  declaration  would  have  been  con- 
ent  with  her  avowed  principles  of  blockade;  and  would 
e  enabled  the  United  States  to  demand  from  France  the 
dged  repeal  of  her  decrees;  either  with  success,  in  which 
e  the  way  would  have  been  opened  for  a  general  repeal  of 
e  belligerent  edicts;  or  without  success,  in  which  case  the 
United  States  would  have  been  justified  in  turning  their  mea- 
sures exclusively  against  France.  The  British  government 
would,  however,  neither  rescind  the  blockade,  nor  declare  its 
non-existence;  nor  permit  its  non-existence  to  be  inferred  and 
affirmed  by  the  American  plenipotentiary.  On  the  contrary, 
by  representing  the  blockade  to  be  comprehended  in  the  or- 
ders in  council,  the  United  States  were  compelled  so  to  re- 
gard it  in  their  subsequent  proceedings. 

There  was  a  period  when  a  favourable  change  in  the  policy 
the  British  cabinet  was  justly  considered  as  established, 
e  minister  plenipotentiary  of  his  Britannic  majesty  here, 
posed  an  adjustment  of  the  differences  more  immediately 
endangering  the  harmony  of  the.  two  countries.  The  proposi- 
tion was  accepted  with  the  promptitude  and  cordiality,  cor- 
responding with  the  invariable  professions  of  this  government. 
A  foundation  appeared  to  be  laid  for  a  sincere  and  lasting 
reconciliation.  The  prospect,  however,  quickly  vanished.  The 
whole  proceeding  was  disavowed  by  the  British  government 
without  any  explanations,  which  could,  at  that  time,  repress 


I5j  HISTORICAL  HEGlSTKit. 

the  belief,  that  the  disavowal  proceeded  from  a  spirit  of  hos- 
tility to  the  commercial  rights  and  prosperity  of  the  United 
States.  And  it  has  since  come  into  proof  that  at  the  very  mo- 
ment, when  the  public  minister  was  holding  the  language  of 
friendship,  and  inspiring  confidence  in  the  sincerity  of  the 
negotiation  with  which  he  was  charged,  a  secret  agent  of  his 
government  was  employed  in  intrigues,  having  for  their  ob- 
ject a  subversion  of  our  government,  and  a  dismemberment 
of  our  happy  union. 

In  reviewing  the  conduct  of  Great  Britain  towards  the 
United  States,  our  attention  is  necessarily  drawn  to  the  war- 
fare, just  renewed  by  the  savages,  on  one  of  our  extensive 
frontiers;  a  warfare,  which  is  known  to  spare  neither  age  nor 
sex,  and  to  be  distinguished  by  features  peculiarly  shocking 
to  humanity.  It  is  difficult  to  account  for  the  activity  and 
combinations  which  have  for  some  time  been  developing 
themselves  among  tribes  in  constant  intercourse  with  British 
traders  and  garrisons,  without  connecting  their  hostility  with 
that  influence,  and  without  recollecting  the  authenticated  ex- 
amples of  such  interpositions,  heretofore  furnished  by  the  offi- 
cers and  agents  of  that  government. 

Such  is  the  spectacle  of  injuries  and  indignities,  which 
have  been  heaped  on  our  country;  and  such  the  crisis  which 
its  unexampled  forbearance  and  conciliatory  efforts  have  not 
been  able  to  avert.  It  might,  at  least,  have  been  expected,  that 
;m  enlightened  nation,  if  less  urged  by  moral  obligations,  01 
invited  by  friendly  dispositions  on  the  part  of  the  Unitec 
States,  would  have  found,  in  its  true  interest  alone,  a  suffi- 
cient motive  to  respect  their  rights  and  their  tranquillity  on 
the  high  seas;  that  an  enlarged  policy  would  have  favoured  that 
free  and  general  circulation  of  commerce  in  which  the  Bri- 
tish nation  is  at  all  times  interested,  and  which,  in  times  of 
war,  is  the  best  alleviation  of  its  calamities^©  herself  as  well 
as  to  other  belligerents;  and,  more  especially,  that  the  Britisl 
cabinet  would  not,  for  the  sake  of  a  precarious  and  surrep- 
titious intercourse  with  hostile  markets,  have  persevered  in  a 
course  of  measures,  which  necessarily  put  at  hazard  the  in- 
valuable market  of  a  great  and  growing  country,  disposed  tc 
cultivate  the  mutual  advantages  of  an  active  commerce. 

Other  councils  have  prevailed.  Our  moderation  and  conci- 
liation had  no  other  effect  than  to  encourage  perseverance  an< 
to  enlarge  pretensions.  We  behold  our  seafaring  citizens  still 
the  daily  victims  of  lawless  violence,  committed  on  the  great 
common  and  highway  of  nations,  even  within  sight  of  the 
country  which  owes  them  protection.  We  behold  our  vessels, 
freighted  with  the  products  of  our  soil  and  industry,  on  re- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [r 

turning  with  the  honest  proceeds  of  them,  wrested  from  their 
lawful  destinations,  confiscated  by  prize  courts,  no  longer  the 
organs  of  public  law,  but  the  instruments  of  arbitrary  edicts; 
and  their  unfortunate  crews  dispersed  and  lost,  or  forced  or 
inveigled  in  British  ports  into  British  fleets;  whilst  arguments 
are  employed,  in  support  of  these  aggressions,  which  have 
no  foundation  but  in  a  principle,  equally  supporting  a  claim  to 
regulate  our  external  commerce  in  all  cases  whatsoever. 

We  behold,  in  fine,  on  the  side  of  Great  Britain,  a  state  of 
war  against  the  United  States;  and  on  the  side  of  the  United 
States,  a  state  of  peace  to*wards  Great  Britain. 

Whether  the  United  States  shall  continue  passive  under 
these  progressive  usurpations,  and  these  accumulating  wrongs; 
or,  opposing  force  to  force  in  defence  of  their  national  rights, 
shall  commit  a  just  cause  into  the  hands  of  the  Almighty 
Disposer  of  events;  avoiding  all  connections  which  might  en- 
tangle it  in  the  contests  or  views  of  other  powers,  and  pre- 
serving a  constant  readiness  to  concur  in  an  honorable  re- 
establishment  of  peace  and  friendship,  is  a  solemn  question, 
which  the  constitution  wisely  confides  to  the  legislative  de- 
partment of  the  government.  In  recommending  it  to  their 
early  deliberations,  I  am  happy  in  the  assurance,  that  the  de- 
cision will  be  worthy  the  enlightened  and  patriotic  councils  of 
a  virtuous,  a  free,  and  a  powerful  nation. 

Having  presented  this  view  of  the  relations  of  the  United 
States  with  Great  Britain,  and  of  the  solemn  alternative  grow- 
ing out  of  them,  I  proceed  to  remark  that  the  communica- 
tions last  made  to  Congress  on  the  subject  of  our  relations 
with  France,  will  have  shown,  that  since  the  revocation  of  her 
decrees,  as  they  violated  the  neutral  rights  of  the  United 
States,  her  government  has  authorised  illegal  captures  by  its 
privateers  and  public  ships;  and  that  other  outrages  have  been 
practised  on  our  vessels  and  our  citizens.  It  will  have  been 
seen,  also,  that  no  indemnity  had  been  provided,  or  satisfac- 
torily pledged,  for  the  extensive  spoliations,  committed  under 
the  violent  and  retrospective  orders  of  the  French  govern- 
ment against  the  property  of  our  citizens,  seized  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  France.  I  abstain,  at  this  time,  from  recom- 
mending to  the  consideration  of  Congress  definitive  measures 
with  respect  to  that  nation,  in  the  expectation  that  the  result 
of  unclosed  discussions  between  our  minister  plenipotentiary 
at  Paris  and  the  French  government,  will  speedily  enable 
congress  to  decide,  with  great  advantage,  on  the  course  due 
to  the  rights,  the  interests,  and  the  honour  of  our  country. 

Washington,  June  1,  1812.          JAMES  MADISON. 


Sj  MFCAL  RECiioTKK. 

The  tee  on  Foreign  Relations,  to  whom  <  rrec 

the  Message  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  of  the  Ji rat, 

of  June,  1812,  report, 

That  after  the  experience  which  the  United  States  have 
had  of  the  great  injustice  of  the  British  government  towards 
them,  exemplified  l;v  so  many  acts  of  violence  and  opp: 
sion,  it  will  be  more  difficult  to  justify  to  the  impartial  world 
their  patient  forbearance,  than  the  measures  to  which  it  has 
become  necessarv  to  resort,  to  avenge  the  wrongs,  and  vindi- 
cate the  rights  and  honour  of  the  nation.  Your  committee  arc 
happy  to  observe,  on  a  dispassionate  review  of  the  conduct 
of  the  United  States,  that  they  see  in  it  no  cause  for  censure. 

If  a  long  forbearance  under  injuries  ought  ever  to  be  con- 
sidered a  virtue  in  -any  nation,  it  is  one  which  peculiarly  be- 
comes the  United  States.  No  people  ever  had  stronger  mo- 
tives to  cherish  peace:  none  have  ever  cherished  it  with 
greater  sincerity  and  zeal. 

But  the  period  has  now  arrived,  when  the  United  States 
must  support  their  character  and  station  among  the  nations 

of  the  earth,  or  submit  to  the  most  shameful  degradation 

Forbearance  has  ceased  to  be  a  virtue.  War  on  the  one  side, 
and  peace  on  the  other,  is  a  situation  as  ruinous  as  it  is  dis- 
graceful. The  mad  ambition,  the  lust  of  power,  and  com- 
mercial avarice,  of  Great  Britain,  arrogating  to  herself  the 
complete  dominion  of  the  ocean,  and  exercising  over  it  an 
unbounded  and  lawless  tyranny,  have  left  to  neutral  nations 
an  alternative  only,  between  the  base  surrender  of  their 
rights,  and  a  manly  vindication  of  them.  Happily  for  the 
United  Stales,  their  destiny,  under  the  aid  of  Heaven,  is  in 
their  own  hands.  The  crisis  is  formidable  only  by  their  love 
of  peace.  As  soon  as  it  becomes  a  duty  to  relinquish  that 
situation,  danger  disappears.  They  have  suffered  no  wrongs, 
they  have  received  no  insults,  however  great,  for  which  the^ 
cannot  obtain  redress. 

More  than  seven  years  have  elapsed  since  the  commence- 
ment of  this  system  of  hostile  aggression  by  the  British  go- 
vernment, on  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  United  States. 
The  manner  of  its  commencement  was  not  less  hostile,  than 
the  spirit  with  which  it  has  been  prosecuted.  The  United- 
States  have  invariably  done  even  thing  in  their  power  to  pre- 
serve the  relations  of  friendship  with  Great  Britain.  Of  this 
disposition  they  gave  a  distinguished  proof,  at  the  moment 
when  they  were  made  the  v  ictims  of  an  opposite  policy.  The 
wrongs  of  the  last  war  had  not  been  forgotten  at  the  corn- 
men  one.  They  warned  us  of  dangers. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

against  which  it  was  sought  to  provide.  As  early  as  the  year 
1804,  the  minister  of  the  United  States  at  London  was  in- 
structed to  invite  the  British  government  to  enter  into  a  ne- 
gotiation on  all  the  points  on  which  a  collision  might  arise 
between  the  two  countries,  in  the  course  of  the  war,  and  to 
propose  to  it  an  arrangement  of  their  claims  on  fair  and  rea- 
sonable conditions.  The  invitation  was  accepted.  A  negotia- 
tion had  commenced  and  was  depending,  and  nothing  had 
occui'red  to  excite  a  doubt  that  it  would  not  terminate  to  the 
satisfaction  of  both  the  parties.  It  was  at  rhis  time,  and  under 
these  circumstances,  that  an  attack  was  made,  by  surprise,  on 
an  important  branch  of  the  American  commerce,  which  af- 
fected every  part  of  the  United  States,  and  involved  many  of 
their  citizens  in  ruin. 

The  commerce,  on  which  this  attack  was  so  unexpectedly 
made,  was  between  the  United  States,  and  the  colonies  of 
France,  Spain,  and  other  enemies  of  Great  Britain.  A  com- 
merce just  in  itself;  sanctioned  by  the  example  of  Great  Bri- 
tain in  regard  to  the  trade  with  her  own  colonies;  sanctioned 
by  a  solemn  act  between  the  two  governments  in  the  last  war- 
id  sanctioned  by  the  practice  of  the  British  government  in 
present  war,  more  than  two  years  having  then  elapsed, 
/ithout  any  interference  with  it. 

The  injustice  of  this  attack  could  only  be  equalled  by  the 
mmlity  of  the  pretext  alleged  for  it.     It  was  pretended  by 
British  government,  that  in  case  of  war,   her  enemy  had 
right  to  modify  its  colonial  regulations,  so  as  to   mitigate 
calamities  of  war  to  the  inhabitants  of  its  colonies    This 
retension,  peculiar  to  Great  Britain,  is  utterly   incompatible 
,'itli  the  rights  of  its  sovereignty  in  every  independent  state. 
we  recur  to  the  well  established  and  universally  admitted 
nv  of  nations,  we  shall  find  no  sanction  to  it,  in  that  vene- 
\ble  code.  The  sovereignty  of  every   state   is   co-extensive 
rith  its  dominions,  and  cannot  be  arrogated,  or  curtailed  in 
rights,  as  to  any  part,  except  by  conquest.     Neutral  na- 
MIS  have  a  right  to  trade  to  every  port  of  either  belligerent, 
rhich  is  not  legally  blockaded  ;  and  in  all  articles  which  are 
not  contraband  of  war.     Such  is  the  absurdity  of  this  pre- 
tension, that  your  committee  are  aware,  especially  after  the 
able  manner  in  which  it  has  been  heretofore  refuted  and  ex- 
posed, that  they  would  offer  an  insult  to  the  understanding 
of  the  house,  if  they  enlarged  on  it,  and  if  any  thing  could 
add  to  the  high  sense  of  the  injustice  of  the  British  govern- 
ment in  the  transaction,  it  would  be  the  contrast  which  her 
conduct  exhibits  in  regard  to  this  trade,  and  in  regard  to  a 
Vd'Li-   I.   PART   TI.  [C] 


fllS'lOKlCAL 

similar  trade  by  neutrals  with  her  own  colonies.  It  L 
to  the  world,  that  Great  Britain  regulates  her  own  trade,  in 
war  and  in  peace,  at  home  and  in  her  colonies,  as  she  finds 
for  her  interest — that  in  war  she  relaxes  the  restraints  of  her 
colonial  system  in  favour  of  the  colonies,  and  that  it  never 
was  suggcsu  d  that  she  had  not  a  right  to  do  it ;  or  that  a 
neutral  in  taking  advantage  of  the  relation  violated  a  bellige- 
rent right  of  her  enemy.  But  with  Great  Britain  every  thing 
is  lawful.  It  is  only  in  a  trade  with  her  enemies  that  the 
United  States  can  do  wrong.  With  them  all  trade  is  unlawful. 

In  the  year  1793  an  attack  was  made  by  the  British  go- 
vernment on  the  same  branch  of  our  neutral  trade,  which  had 
nearly  involved  the  two  countries  in  war.  That  difference 
however  was  amicably  accommodated.  The  pretension 
Withdrawn,  and  reparation  made  to  the  United  States  for  the 
losses  which  they  had  suffered  by  it.  It  was  fair  to  in  A  r 
from  that  arrangement  that  the  commerce  was  deemed  by  the 
British  government  lawful,  and  that  it  would  not  be  again 
disturbed. 

Had  the  British  government  been  resolved  to  contest  this 
trade  with  neutrals,  it  was  due  to  the  character  of  the  British 
nation  that  the  decision  should  be  made  known  to  the  go- 
vernment of  the  United  States.  The  existence  of  a  negotia- 
tion which  had  been  invited  by  our  government,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  preventing  differences  by  an  amicable  arrangement 
of  their  respective  pretensions,  gave  a  strong  claim  to  th< 
notification,  while  it  afforded  the  fairest  opportunity  for  it. 
But  a  very  different  policy  animated  the  then  cabinet  of  Eng- 
land. The  liberal  confidence  and  friendly  overtures  of  the 
United  States  were  taken  advanta<;r  of  to  ensnare  them. 
Steady  to  its  purpose,  and  inflexibly  hostile  to  this  country, 
the  British  government  calmly  looked  forward  to  the  mo- 
ment, vihen  it  might  give  the  most  deadly  wound  to  our  in- 
ts.  A  trade  just  in  itself,  which  was  secured  by  so  many 
strong  and  spared  pledges,  was  considered  safe.  Our  citi- 
2ens  with  their  usual  industry  and  enterprize,  had  embarked 
in  it  a  vast  proportion  of  shipping,  and  of  their  capital,  whirl'. 
were  at  ^ea,  under  no  other  protection  than  the  l::w  of  na- 
tions, and  the  confidence  which  they  reposal  in  the  justice 
and  friendship  of  the  British  nation.  At  this  period  the  un- 
expected blow  was  gi\en.  Many  of  our  vessels  were  seized, 
carried  into  port,  and  condemned  by  a  tribunal,  which,  while 
it  professes  to  respect  the  law  of  nations,  obeys  the  mandates 
of  its  own  government.  Hnnc!;-c'.:s  of  our  vessels  were 
driven  from  the  ocean,  and  the  trade  itself  in  a  great  measure 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 


pressed.  The  effect  produced  by  this  attack  on  the  law- 
commerce  of  the  United  States  was  such  as  might  have 
been  expected  from  a  virtuous,  independent,  and  highly  in- 
jured people.  But  one  sentiment  pervaded  the  whole  Ameri- 
can nation.  No  local  interests  were  regarded;  no  sordid 
motives  felt.  Without  looking  to  the  parts  which  suffered 
most,  the  invasion  of  our  rights  was  considered  a  common 
use,  and  from  one  extremity  of  our  union  to  the  other, 
as  heard  the  voice  of  an  united  people,  calling  on  their 
government  to  avenge  their  wrongs,  and  vindicate  the  rights 
and  honour  of  the  country. 

From  this  period  the  British  government  has  gone  on  in  a 
continued  encroachment  on  the  rights  and  interests  of  the 
United  States,  disregarding  in  its  course,  in  many  instances, 
obligations  which  have  heretofore  been  held  sacred  by  civi- 
lized nations. 

In  May,  1806,  the  whole  coast  of  the  continent  from 
the  Elbe  to  Brest  inclusive,  was  declared  to  be  in  a  state  of 
blockade.  By  this  act,  the  well-established  principles  of  the 
law  of  nations,  principles  which  have  served  for  ages  as 
guides,  and  fixed  the  boundary  between  the  rights  of  bel- 
erents  and  neutrals,  were  violated:  by  the  law  of  nations, 
recognised  by  Great  Britain  herself,  no  blockade  is  lawful, 
less  it  be  sustained  by  the  application  of  an  adequate  force, 
d  that  an  adequate  force  was  applied  to  this  blockade,  iu 
its  full  extent,  ought  not  to  be  pretended.  Whether  Great 
ritain  was  able  to  maintain,  legally,  so  extensive  a  blockade, 
nsidering  the  war  in  which  she  is  engaged,  requiring  such 
tensive  naval  operations,  is  a  question  which  it  is  not  ne- 
ssary  at  this  time  to  examine.  It  is  sufficient  to  be  known, 
at  such  force  was  not  applied,  and  this  is  evident  from  the 
rms  of  the  blockade  itself,  by  which,  comparatively,  an  in- 
considerable portion  of  the  coast  only  was  declared  to  be  in  a 
,te  of  strict  and  rigorous  blockade.  The  objection  to  the 
easure  is  not  diminished  by  that  circumstance.  If  the 
brce  was  not  applied,  the  blockade  was  unlawful,  from'  what- 
ever cause  the  failure  might  proceed.  The  belligerent  who 
institutes  the  blockade  cannot  absolve  itself  from  the  obliga- 
tion to  apply  the  force  under  any  pretext  whatever. — For  a 
belligerent  to  relax  a  blockade,  which  it  could  not  maintain, 
it  would  be  a  refinement  in  injustice,  not  less  insulting  to  the 
understanding  than  repugnant  to  the  law  of  nations.  To 
claim  merit  for  the  mitigation  of  an  evil,  which  the  party 
either  had  not  the  power  or  found  it  inconvenient  to  inflict, 
uld  be  n  new  mode  of  rru-roachine;  on  neutral 


12]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Your  committee  think  it  just  to  remark  that  this  act  of  the 
British  government  does  not  appear  to  have  been  adopted  in 
the  sense  in  whirh  it  has  been  since  construed.  On  consi- 
deration of  all  the  circumstances  attending  the  measure,  and 
particularly  the  character  of  the  distinguished  statesman  who 
announced  it,  we  are  persn  id.-d  that  it  was  conceived  in  a 
spirit  of  conciliation,  and  intended  to  lead  to  an  accommo- 
dation of  all  differences  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain.  His  death  disappointed  that  hope,  and  the  act  has 
since  become  subservient  to  other  purposes.  It  has  been 
made  by  his  successors  a  pretext  for  that  vast  system  of  usur- 
pation, which  has  so  long  oppressed  and  harassed  our  com- 
merce. 

The  next  act  of  the  British  government  which  claims  our 
•attention  is  the  order  of  council  of  January  7,  1807,  by  which 
neutral  powers  are  prohibited  trading  from  one  port  to  ano- 
ther of  I1' ranee  or  her  allies,  or  any  other  country  with  which 
Great  Britain  might  not  freely  trade.  By  this  order  the  pre- 
tension of  England,  heretofore  claimed  by  every  other  pow- 
er, to  prohibit  neutrals  disposing  of  parts  of  their  cargoes  at 
different  ports  of  the  same  enemy,  is  revived,  and  with  vast 
accumulation  of  injury.  Every  enemy,  however  great  the 
number  or  distant  from  each  other,  is  considered  one,  and  he 
like  trade  even  with  powers  at  peace  with  England,  who 
from  motives  of  policy  had  excluded  or  restrained  her  com- 
merce, was  also  prohibited.  In  this  act  the  British  govern- 
ment evident!}  disclaimed  all  regard  for  neutral  rights. 
Aware  that  the  measures  authorized  by  it  could  find  no  pre- 
text in  any  belligerent  right,  none  was  urged.  To  prohibit 
the  sale  of  our  produce,  consisting  of  innocent  articles,  at  any 
port  of  a  belligerent  not  blockaded,  to  consider  every  belli- 
gerent as  one,  and  subject  neutrals  to  the  same  restraints 
with  all,  as  if  there  was  but  one,  were  bold  encroachments. 
But  to  restrain  or  in  any  manner  interfere  with  our  com- 
merce with  neutral  nations  with  whom  Great  Britain  was  at 
peace,  ami  against  whom  she  had  no  justifiable  cause  of  war. 
for  the  sole  reason  that  they  restrained  or  -excluded  from 
their  ports  her  commerce,  was  utterlv  incompatible  with  the 
pacific  relations  subsisting  between  the  two  countries. 

We  proceed  to  bring  into  view  the  British  orders  in  coun- 
cil of  November  llth,  1807,  which  superceded  every  other 
order,  and  consummated  that  system  of  hostility  on  the  com- 
merce of  the  United  Suites  which  has  been  since  so  steadily 
pursued.  By  this  order  all  France  and  her  allies,  and  every 
other  country  at  war  with  Great  Britain,  or  with  which 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [15 

\vas  not  at  war,  from  which  the  British  flag  was  excluded, 
and  all  the  colonies  of  her  enemies,  were  subjected  to  the 
same  restriction  as  if  they  were  actually  blockaded  in  the 
most  strict  and  rigorous  manner,  and  all  trade  in  articles  the 
produce  and  manufacture  of  the  said  countries  and  colonies, 
and  the  vessels  engaged  in  it,  were  subject  to  capture  and 
condemnation  as  lawful  prize.  To  this  order  certain  excep- 
tions were  made  which  we  forbear  to  notice,  because  they 
were  not  adopted  from  a  regard  to  neutral  rights,  but  were 
dictated  by  policy  to  promote  the  commerce  of  England,  and, 
so  far  as  they  relate  to  neutral  powers,  were  said  to  emanate 
from  the  clemency  of  the  British  government. 

It  would  be  superfluous  in  your  committee  to  state,  that  by 
this  order  the  British  government  declared  direct  and  posi- 
tive war  against  the  United  States.  The  dominion  of  the 
ocean  was  completely  usurped  by  it,  all  .commerce  forbidden 
and  every  flag  driven  from  it  or  subjected  to  capture  and  con- 
demnation, which  did  not  subserve  the  policy  of  the  British 
government  by  paving  it  a  tribute  and  sailing  under  its  sanc- 
tion. From  this  period  the  United  States  have  incurred  the 
heaviest  losses  and  most  mortifying  humiliations.  They 
have  borne  the  calamities  of  war  without  retorting  them  on 
its  authors. 

So  far  your  committee  has  presented  to  the  view  of  the 
house  the  aggressions  which  have  been  committed  under  the 
authority  of  the  British  government  on  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States.  We  will  now  proceed  to  other  wrongs  which 
have  been  still  more  severely  felt.  Among  these  is  the  im- 
pressment of  our  seamen,  a  practice  which  has  been  unceas- 
ingly maintained  by  Great  Britain  in  the  wars  to  which  she 
has  been  a  party  since  our  revolution.  Your  committee  can- 
not convey  in  adequate  terms  the  deep  sense  which  they  en- 
tertain of  the  injustice  and  oppression  of  this  proceeding. 
Under  the  pretext  of  impressing  British  seamen,  our  fellow 
citizens  are  seized  in  British  ports,  on  the  high  seas,  and  in 
every  other  quarter  to  which  the  British  power  extends,  are 
taken  on  board  British  men  of  war,  and  compelled  to  serve 
there  as  British  subjects.  In  this  mode  our  citizens  are 
wantonly  snatched  from  their  country  and  their  families,  de- 
prived of  their  liberty,  and  doomed  to  an  ignominious  and 
slavish  bondage,  compelled  to  fight  the  battles  of  a  foreign 
country,  and  often  to  perish  in  them.  Our  flag  has  given 
them  no  protection  ;  it  has  been  unceasingly  violated,  and  our 
vessels  exposed  to  danger  by  the  loss  of  the  men  taken  from 

them.  Your  committee  need  not  remark,  that  while. the  prac- 

' 


UJ  HISTOKICAL  REGISTER. 

tice  is  continued,  it  is  impossible  for  the  United  b 
consider  themselves  ah  independent  nation.  Every  new  case 
is  a  new  proof  of  their  degradation.  Its  continuance  is  the 
more  unjustifiable,  because  the  United  States  have  repeatedly 
proposed  to  the  British  government  an  arrangement  which 
would  secure  to  it  the  controul  of  its  own  people.  An  ex- 
emption of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  from  this  de- 
grading oppression  and  their  flag  from  violation,  is  all  that 
they  have  sought. 

This  lawless  waste  of  our  trade,  and  equally  unlawful  im- 
pressment of  our  seamen,  have  been  much  aggravated  by  the 
insults  and  indignities  attending  them.  Under  the  pretext  of 
blockading  the  harbours  of  France  and  her  allies,  British 
squadrons  have  been  stationed  on  our  own  coast,  to  watch  and 
annoy  our  own  trade.  To  give  effect  to  the  blockade  of  Eu- 
ropean ports,  the  ports  and  harbours  of  the  United  States 
have  been  blockaded.  In  executing  these  orders  of  the  Bri- 
tish government,  or  in  obeying  the  spirit  which  was  known 
to  animate  it,  the  commanders  of  these  squadrons  have  en- 
croached on  our  jurisdiction,  seized  our  vessels,  and  carried 
into  effect  impressments  within,  our  limits,  and  done  other 
acts  of  great  injustice,  violence,  and  oppression.  The  United 
States  have  seen,  with  mingled  indignation  and  surprise,  that 
these  acts,  instead  of  procuring  to  the  perpetrators  the  pun- 
ishment due  to  unauthorized  crimes,  have  not  failed  to  re- 
commend them  to  the  favour  of-  their  government. 

Whether  the  British  government  has  contributed  by  active 
measures  to  excite  against  us  the  hostility  of  the  savage  tribes 
on  our  frontiers,  your  committee  are  not  disposed  to  occupy 
much  time  in  investigating.  Certain  indications  of  general 
notoriety  may  supply  the  place  of  authentic  documents; 
though  these  have  not  been  wanting  to  establish  the  fact  in 
:-orae  instances.  It  is  known  that  symptoms  of  British  hos- 
tility towards  the  United  States  have  never  failed  to  produce 
corresponding  symptoms  among  those  tribes.  It  is  also  well 
known  that  on  all  such  occasions,  abundant  supplies  of  the 
ordinary  munitions  of  war  have  been  afforded  by  the  agents 
of  British  commercial  companies,  and  even  from  British 
garrisons,  wherewith  they  were  enabled  to  commence  that 
-  \  stem  of  savage  warfare  on  our  frontiers,  which  has  been 
at  all  times  indiscriminate  in  its  effect,  on  ail  ages,  sexes,  and 
conditions,  and  so  revolting  to  humanity. 

Your  committee  would   be  much  gratified  if  they  could 
close  here  the  detail  of  British  wrongs ;  but  it  is  their  duty 
..nnth.T  :u<,  of  still  greater  malignity  than,  an" 


Or  S. 

o  wliich  have  been  already  brought  to  -your  view.  The 
>npt  to  dismember  our  union  and  overthrow  our  excellent 
constitution,  by  a  secret  mission,  the  object  of  which  was  to 
foment  discontents  and  excite  insurrection  against  the  con- 
stituted authorities  and  laws  of  the  nation,  as  lately  disclosed 
by  the  agent  employed'in  it,  affords  full  proof  that  there  is  no 
bound  to  the  hostility  of  the  British  government  towards  the 
United  States — no  act,  however  unjustifiable,  which  it  would 
not  commit  to  accomplish  th"5r  ruin.  This  attempt  excites 
the  greater  horror  from  the  Consideration  that  it  was  made 
while  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  were  at  peace,  and 
an  amicable  negotiation  was  depending  between  them  for  the 
accommodation  of  their  differences  through  public  ministers 
regularly  authorized  for  the  purpose. 

The  United  States  hare  beheld,  with  unexampled  forbear- 
ance, this  continued  series  of  hostile  encroachments  on  their 
rights  and  interests,  in. the  hope,  that,  yielding  to  the  force 
of  friendly  remonstrances,  often  repeated,  the  British  go- 
vernment might  adopt  a  more  just  policy  towards  them,  but 
that  hope  no  longer  exists.  They  have  also  weighed  impar- 
tially the  reasons  which  have  been  urged  by  the  British  go- 
vernment in  vindication  of  these  encroachments,  and  found 
in  them  neither  justification  nor  apology. 

The  British  government  has  alleged,  in  vindication  of  the 
orders  in  council,  that  thev  were  resorted  to  as  a  retaliation 
on  France,  for  similar  aggressions  committed  by  her  on  our 
neutral  trade  with  the  British  dominions.  But  how  has  this 
plea  been  supported  ?  the  dates  of  British  and  French  ag- 
gressions are  well  known  to  the  world.  Their  origin  and 
progress  have  been  marked  with  too  wide  and  destructive  a 
waste  of  the  property  of  our  fellow  citizens,  to  have  been 
forgotten.  The  decree  of  Berlin  of  November  21st,  1805, 
was  the  first  aggression  of  France  in  the  present  war.  Eigh- 
teen months  had  then  elapsed,  after  the  attack  made  by  Great 
Britain  on  our  neutral  trade,  with  the  colonies  of  France  and 
her  allies,  and  six  months  from  the  date  of  the  proclamation 
of  May,  1806.  Even  on  the  7th  January,  1807,  the  date  of 
the  first  British  order  in  council,  so  short  a,  term  had  elap- 
sed, after  the  Berlin  decree,  that  it  was  hardly  possible,  that 
the  intelligence  of  it  should  have  reached  the  United  States. 
A  retaliation  which  is  to  produce  its  effect,  by  operating  on  a 
neutral  power,  ought  not  be  resorted  to,  till  the  neutral  had 
justified  it  by  a  culpable  acquiescence  in  the  unlawful  act  of 
the  other  belligerent.  It  ought  to  be  delayed  until  after  suffi 
cient  time  had  been  allowed  to  the  neutral  to  remonstrate 


HUCAL  REGISTER. 

jainst  the  measure  complained  of,  to  receive  an  answer,  ar 
act  on  it,  which  had  not  been  done  in  the  present  instance  ; 
and  when  the  order  of  November  llth  was  issued,  it  is  \vc-Il 
known  that  a  minister  of  France  had  declared  to  the  minister 
plenipotentiary  of  the  Unittd  States  at  Paris,  that  it  was  not 
intended  that  the  decree  of  Berlin  should  apply  to  the  United 
States.  It  is  equally  well  known,  that  no  American  vessel 
had  then  been  condemned  under  it,  or  seizure  been  made, 
with  which  the  British  government  was  acquainted.  The  facts 
prove  incontestibly,  that  the  measures  of  France,  however 
unjustifiable  in  themselves,  were  nothing  more  than  a  pretext 
for  those  of  England.  And  of  the  insufficiency  of  that  pre- 
text, ample  proof  has  already  been  afforded  by  the  British 
government  itself,  and  in  the  most  impressive  form.  Al- 
though it  was  declared  that  the  orders  in  council  were  retali- 
atory on  France  for  her  decrees,  it  was  also  declared,  and  in 
the  orders  themselves,  that  owing  to  the  superiority 'of  the 
British  navy,  by  which  the  fleets  of  France  and  her  allies 
were  confined  within  their  own  ports,  the  French  decrees 
were  considered  only  as  empty  threats. 

It  is  no  justification  of  the  wrongs  of  one  power,  that  the 
like  were  committed  by  another :  nor  ought  the  fact,  if  true, 
to  have  been  urged  by  either,  as  it  could  afford  no  proof  of 
its  love  of  justice,  or  its  magnanimity,  or  even  of  its  courage. 
It  is  more  worthy  the  government  of  a  great  nation,  to  relieve 
than  to  assail  the  injured.  Nor  can  a  repetition  of  the  wrongs 
by  another  power  repair  the  violated  rights,  or  wounded  ho- 
nour, of  the  injured  party.  An  utter  inability  alone  to  resist, 
would  justify  a  quiet  surrender  of  our  rights,  and  degrading 
submission  to  the  will  of  others.  To  that  condition  the  Uni- 
ted States  are  not  reduced,  nor  do  they  fear  it.  That  they 
ever  consented  to  discuss  with  either  power  the  misconduct 
of  the  other,  is  a  proof  of  their  love  of  peace,  of  their  mo- 
deration, and  of  the  hope  which  they  still  indulged  that  friendly 
appeals  to  just  and  generous  sentiments  would  not  be  made 
to  them  in  vain.  But  the  motive  was  mistaken,  if  their  for- 
bearance was  imputed,  either  to  the  want  of  a  just  sensibility 
to  their  wrongs,  or  of  a  determination,  if  suitable  redress  was 
not  obtained,  to  resent  them.— The  time  has  now  arrived 
when  this  system  of  reasoning  must  cease.  It  would  be  in- 
sulting to  repeat  it.  It  would  be  degrading  to  bear  it.  The 
United  States  must  act  as  an  independent  nation,  and  assert 
their  rights  and  avenge  their  -wrongs,  according  to  their  own 
estimate  of  them,  with  the  partv  who  commits  them,  holding 
it  responsible  for  its  own  misdeeds  unmitigated  by  those  of 
another. 


OFFICIAL  DpCUMENTS,  [ir 

For  the  difference  made  between  Great  Britain  and  France, 
Ijy  the  application  of  the  non-impcrtafion  act  against  England 
only,  the  motive  has  been  already  too  often  explained,  and  is 
too  well  known  to  require  further  illustration.  In  the  com- 
mercial restrictions  to  which  the  United  States  resorted  as  an. 
evidence  of  their  sensibility,  and  a  mild  retaliation  of  their 
wrongs,  they  invariably  placed  both  powers  on  the  same  foot- 
ing, holding  out  to  each,  in  respect  to  itself,  the  same  accom- 
modation, in  case  it  accepted  the  condition  offered,  and  ia 
respect  to  the  other,  the  same  restraint,  if  it  refused.  Had 
the  British  government  confirmed  the  arrangement,  which 
was  entered  into  with  the  British  government  in  1809,  and 
France  maintained  her  decrees,  with  France  would  the  Uni- 
ted States  have  had  to  resist,  with  the  firmness  belonging  to 
their  character,  the  continued  violation  of  their  rights.  The 
committee  do  not  hesitate  to  declare,  that  France  has  greatly 
injured  the  United  States,  and  that  satisfactory  reparation 
has  not  yet  been  made,  for  many  of  these  injuries.  But  that 
is  a  concern  which  the  United  States  will  look  to  and  settle 
for  themselves.  The  high  chavacter  of  the  American  people, 
is  a  sufficient  pledge  to  the  world,  that  they  will  not  fail  to 
settle  it,  on  conditions  which  they  have  a  right  to  claim. 

More  recently,  the  true  policy  of  the  British  government 
towards  the  United  States,  has  been  completely  unfolded.  It 
has  been  publicly  declared  by  those  in  power,  that  the  orders 
in  council  should  not  be  repealed,  until  the  French  govern- 
ment had  revoked  all  its  internal  restraints  on  the  British 
commerce,  and  that  the  trade  of  the  United  States  with 
France  and  her  allies  should  be  prohibited  until  Great  Bri- 
tain was  also  allowed  to  trade  with  them.  By  this  declara- 
tion, it  appears,,  that  to  satisfy  the  pretensions  of  the  British 
government,  the  United  States  must  join  Great  Britain  in  the 
war  with  France,  and  prosecute  the  war,  until  France  should 
be  subdued:  for  without  her  subjugation  it  were  in  vain  to 
presume  on  such  a  concession.  The  hostility  of  the  British 
government  to  these  states  has  been  still  further  disclosed.  It 
has  been  made  manifest  that  the  United  States  are  considered 
by  it  as  the  commercial  rival  of  Great  Britain,  and  that  their 
prosperity  and  growth  are  incompatible  with  her  welfare. 
When  all  these  circumstances  are  taken  into  consideration, 
it  is  impossible  for  your  committee  to  doubt  the  motives 
which  have  governed  the  British  ministry  in  all  its  measures 
towards  the  United  States  since  the  year  1805,  Equally  is  it 
impossible  to  doubt,  long-  r,  the  course  which  the  United 
States  ought  to  pursue  towards  Great  Britain. 

vor .  T,  p  s  r.T  TT. 


18]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

From  this  view  of  the  multiplied  wrongs  of  the  Brit 
government  since  the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  it 
must  be  evident  to  the  impartial  world,  that  the  contest  which 
is  now  forced  on  the  United  States  is  radically  a  contest  for 
their  sovereignty  and  independence.  Your  committee  will 
not  enlarge  on  any  of  the  injuries,  however  great,  which  have 
had  a  transitory  effect.  They  wish  to  call  the  attention  of 
the  house  to  those  of  a  permanent  nature  only,  which  in- 
trench so  deeply  on  our  most  important  rights,  and  wound  so 
extensively  and  vitally  our  best  interests,  as  could  not  fail  to 
deprive  the  United  States  of  the  principal  advantages  of  their 
revolution,  if  submitted  to.  The  controul  of  our  commerce 
by  Great  Britain,  in  regulating  at  pleasure,  and  expelling  it 
almost  from  the  ocean;  the  oppressive  manner  in  which  these 
regulations  have  been  carried  into  effect,  by  seizing  and  con- 
fiscating such  of  our  vessels,  with  their  cargoes,  as  were  said 
to  have  violated  her  edicts,  often  without  previous  warning 
of  their  danger;  the  impressment  of. our  citizens  from  on 
board  our  own  vessels  on  the  high  seas,  and  elsewhere,  and 
holding  them  in  bondage  until  it  suited  the  convenience  of 
their  oppressors  to  deliver  them  up,  are  encroachments  of 
that  high  and  dangerous  tendency  which  could  not  fail  to  pro- 
duce that  pernicious  effect,  nor  would  those  be  the  only  con- 
sequences that  would  result  from  it.  The  British  govern- 
ment might,  for  a  while,  be  satisfied  with, the  ascendancy 
thus  gained  over  us,  but  its  pretensions  would  soon  encrease. 
The  proof,  which  so  complete  and  disgraceful  a  submission 
to  its  authority  would  afford  of  our  dcgenei-acy,  could  not 
fail  to  inspire  confidence  that  there  was  no  limit  to  which  its 
usurpations  and  our  degradation  might  not  be  carried. 

Your  committee,  believing  that  the  freeborn  sons  of  Ame- 
rica are  worthy  to  enjoy  the  liberty  which  their  fathers  pur- 
chased at  the  price  of  so  much  blood  and  treasure,  and  see- 
ing, in  the  measures  adopted  by  Great  Britain,  a  course 
commenced  and  persisted  in,  which  might  lead  to  a  loss  of 
national  character  and  independence,  feel  no  hesitation  in  ad- 
vising resistance  by  force,  in  which  the  Americans  of  the 
present  day  will  prove  to  the  enemy  and  to  the  world,  that  we 
have  not  only  inherited  that  liberty  which  our  fathers  gave  us, 
but  also  the. will  and  power  to  maintain  it.  Relying  on  the 
patriotism  of  the  nation,  and  confidently  trusting  that  the 
Lord  of  Hosts  will  go  v.'ith  Us  to  battle  in  a  righteous  cause, 
and  crown  our  efforts  with  success — your  committee  recom- 
mend an  immediate  nn- 


OFFJCIAJL  DOCUMENTS.  j> 

British  Declaration. 

London,  January  10. 

The  earnest  endeavours  of  the  prince  regtnt  to  preserve 
the  relations  of  peace  and  amity  with  the  United  Stales  of 
America  having  unfortunately  failed,  his  royal  highness,  act- 
ing in  the  name  and  on  the  behalf  of  his  majesty,  deems  it 
proper  publicly  to  declare  the  causes  and  origin  of  the  war 
in  which  the  government  of  the  United  States  has  compelled 
him  to  engage. 

No  desire  of  conquest,  or  other  ordinary  motive  of  ag- 
gression, has  been,  or  can  be  with  any  colour  of  reason  in  this 
case  imputed  to  Great  Britain:  that  her  commercial  interests 
were  on  the  side  of  peace,  if  war  could  have  been  avoided, 
without  the  sacrifice  of  her  maritime  rights,  or  without  an 
injurious  submission  to  France,  is  a  truth  which  the  Ameri- 
can government  will  not  deny. 

His  royal  highness  does  not  however  mean  to  rest  on  the 
favourable  presumption,  to  which  he  is  entitled.  He  is  pre- 
pared, by  an  exposition  of  the  circumstances  which  have  led 
to  the  present  war,  to  show  that  Great  Britain  has  throughout 
acted  towards  the  United  States  of  America',  with  a  spirit  of 
amity,  forbearance,  and  conciliation ;  and  to  demonstrate  the 
inadmissible  nature  of  those  pretensions,  which  have  at  length 
unhappily  involved  the  two  countries  in  war. 

It  is  well  known  to  the  world,  that  it  has  been  the  invaria- 
ble object  of  the  ruler  of  France  to  destroy  the  power  and 
independence  of  the  British  empire,  as  the  chief  obstacle  to 
the  accomplishment  of  his  ambitious  designs. 

He  first  contemplated  the  possibility  of  assembling  such  a 
naval  force  in  the  channel,  as,  combined  with  a  numerous  flo- 
tilla, should  enable  him  to  disembark  in  England  an  army 
sufficient,  in  his  conception,  to  subjugate  this  country;  and 
through  the  conquest  of  Great  Britain  he  hoped  to  realize  his 
project  of  universal  empire. 

By  the  adoption  of  an  enlarged  and  provident  system  of 
internal  defence,  and  by  the  valour  of  his  majesty's  fleets 
and  armies,  this  design  was  entirely  frustrated  ;  and  the 
naval  force  of  France,  after  the  most  signal  defeats,  was 
compelled  to  retire  from  the  ocean. 

An  attempt  was  then  made  to  effectuate  the  same  purpose 
by  other  means ;  a  system  was  brought  forward,  by  which 
the  ruler  of  France  hoped  to  annihilate  the  commerce  of 
Great  Britain,  to  shake  her  public  c.redit,  and  to  dt  s.:ro\  her 
revenue,  to  render  useless. her  maritime  superiority,  nnd  so 
to  avail  himself  ol  his  continental  ascendancy,  as  to  consti- 
tute himself  in  a  great  measure  the  arbiter  of  the  ocean, 
notwithstanding  the  destruction  of  his  fleet. 


2Uj  HISTORIC 

With  this  view,  by  the  decree  of  Berlin,  fcx' 
of  Milan,  he  declared  the  British  territories  to  h  of 

blockade  ;   and   that  all    comm-  rce  or  even   correspondence 
with  Great  Britain   was  prohibited.     Ht 
vessel  and  cargo,  which  had  entered  or  was  found  pr, 
ing  to  a  British  port,  or  which,  under  any  circumstances,  had 
betn  visited  by  a  British  ship  of  war,  should  be  lawful  prize: 
he  declared  all  British  goods  and  r  found, 

and  however  acquired,  whether  coming  from  the  mother 
country,  or  from  her  colonies,  subject  to  confiscation  :  he 
further  declared  to  be  denationalized  the  flag  of  all  neutral 
ships  that  should  be  found  offending  against  these  his  de- 
crees ;  and  he  gave  to  this  project  of  universal  tyranny  the 
name  of  the  continental  system. 

For  these  attempts  to  ruin  the  commerce  of  Great  Britain, 
by  means  subversive  of  the  dearest  rights  of  neutral  nations, 
France  endeavoured  in  vain  to  rest  her  justification  upon  the 
previous  conduct  of  his  majesty's  government. 

Under  circumstances  of  unparalleled  provocation,  his  ma- 
jesty had  abstained  from  any  measure  which  the  ordinary 
rules  of  the  law  of  nations  did  not  fully  warrant.  Never 
was  the  maritime  superiority  of  a  belligerent  more  complete 
and  decided.  Never  was  the  opposite  belligerent  so  formi- 
dably dangerous  in  his  power  and  in  his  policy  to  the  liber- 
ties of  all  other  nations.  France  had  already  trampled  so 
openly  and  systematically  on  the  most  sacred  rigbts  of  neu- 
tral powers,  as  might  well  have  justified  the  placing  her  out 
of  the  pale  of  civilized  nations.  Yet  in  this  extreme  case, 
Great  Britain  had  so  used  her  naval  ascendancy,  that  her 
:ny  could  find  no  just  cause  of  complaint;  and  in  order 
,ive  to  these  lawless  decrees  the  appearance  of  retaliation, 
the  ruler  of  F;  I  to  advance  priiiciph-s  of 

maritime  law   unsanctioned  by  any  other  autho.  n  his 

own  arbitrary  will. 

The  pretext  for  these  decrees  were,  first,  that  Great  Bri- 
tain had  eX'Ttised  th  p-rsons, 
their  ships  and  gooci  me  onlv  object  of  legitimate 
hostility  on  the  o  state,  or 
as  if  the  edicts  and  the  court'  e  itself  had  not  at  ail 
times  enforced  this  right  with  peculiar  rigour;  s. 
that  the  British  orders  of  blockade,  ins'  nig  confined 
to  fortified  towns,  bad,  a^ 

extended  to  commercial  towns  and  ports,  and  to  the 
mouths  of  rivers;  and  thirdly,  that  they  had  been  applied  to 
places,  and  to  coasts,  which  m-  ~e,  nor  could  be  actu- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 


y  blockaded.     The  last  of  these  charges  is  not  founded 
on  fact;  whilst  the  others,  even  b\   the  admission  of  the 
erican   government,  are  utterly  groundless  in  point   of 

i\V. 

Against  these  decrees,  his  .majesty  protested  and  appealed, 
he  called  upon  the  United  States  to  assert  their  own  rights, 
and  to  vindicate  their  independence^  thus  menaced  and  at- 
tacked ;  and  as  France  had  declared,  that  she  would  confis- 
cate every  vessel  that  should  touch  in  Great  Britain,  or  be 
visited  by  British  ships  of  war,  his  majesty,  having  previous- 
ly issued  the  order  of  January,  1807,  as  an  act  of  mitigated 
retaliation,  was  at  length  compelled,  by  the  persevering  vio- 
lence of  the  enemy,  and  the  continued  acquiescence  of  neu- 
tral powers,  to  revisit  upon  France,  in  a  more  effectual  man- 
r,  the  measure  of  her  own  injustice,  by  declaring,  in  an 
der  in  council,  bearing  date  the  llth  of  November,  1807, 
that  no  neutral  vessel  should  proceed  to  France,  or  to  any  of 
e  countries  to  which,  in  obedience  to  the  dictates  of  France, 
itish  commerce  was  excluded,  without  first  touching  at  a 
rt  in  Great  Britain,  or  her  independencies.  At  the  same 
e  his  majesty  intimated  his  readiness  to  repeal  the  orders 
council  whenever  France  should  rescind  her  decrees,  and 
turn  to  the  accustomed  principles  of  maritime  warfare  j  and 
a  subsequent  period,  as  a  proof  of  his  majesty's  sincere 
sire  to  accommodate,  as  far  as  possible-,  his  defensive  mea- 
ires  to  the  convenience  of  neutral  powers,  the  operation  of 
e  orders  in  council  was,  by  an  order  issued  in  April,  1809, 
ited  to  a  blockade  of  France,  and  of  the  countries  subject 
her  immediate  dominion. 

Systems  of  violence,  oppression,  and  tyranny,  can  never  be 
ppressed,  or  even  checked,  if  the  power  against  which  such 
[justice  is  exercised,  be  debarred  from  the  right  of  full  and 
equate  retaliation  ;  or,  if  the  measures  of  the   retaliating 
wer  are  to  be  considered  as  matter  of  just  offence  to  neu- 
al  nations,  whilst  the  measures  of  original  aggression  and 
violence  are  to  be  tolerated  with  indifference,  submission,  or 
)mplacency. 

The  government  of  the  United  States  did  not  fail  to  re- 
onstrate  against  the  orders  in  council  of  Great  Britain, 
1  though  they  knew  that  these  orders  would  be  revoked  if 
e  decrees  of  France,  which  had  occasioned  them,  were  re- 
aled;  they  resolved  at  the  same  moment  to  resist  the  con- 
duct of  both  belligerents,  instead  'of  requiring  France  in  the 
first  instance  to  rescind  her  decrees.  Applving  most  unjustly 
the  same  measure  of  resentment  to  the  aggressor  and  to 


&t]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

the  party  aggrieved,  they  adopted  measures  of  comnu-i 
resistance  against  both — a  system  of  resistance,  which,  how- 
ever varied  in  the  Successive  acts  of  embargo,  non-inter- 
course, or  non-importation,  was  evidently  unequal  in  its  ope- 
ration, and  principal!}  levelled  against  the  superior  com- 
merce and  maritime  power  of  Great  Britain. 

The  same  parriaiiiy  towards  France  was  observable  in 
their  negotiations,  as  in  their  measures  of  alleged  resistance. 

Application  was  made  to  both  belligerents  for  the  revoca- 
tion of  their  respective  edicts,  but  the  terms  in  which  they 
were  made  were  widely  different. 

Of  France  was  required  a  revocation  only  of  the  Berlin, 
and  Milan  decrees,  although  many  other  edicts,  grossly  vio- 
lating the  neutral  commerce  of  the  United  States,  had  been 
promulgated  by  that  power.  No  security  was  demanded, 
that  the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees,  even  if  rescinded,  should 
not  under  some  other  form  be  re-established;  and  a  direct 
engagement  was  offered,  that  upon  such  revocation  the 
American  government  would  take  part  in  the  war  against 
Great  Britain,  if  she  did  not  immediately  rescind  her  orders. 
Whereas  no  corresponding  engagement  was  offered  to  Great 
Britain,  of  whom  it  was  required,  not  only  that  the  orders 
in  council  should  be  repealed,  but  that  no  others  of  a  similar 
nature  should  be  issued,  and  that  the  blockade  of  May,  1806, 
should  be  abandoned.  This  blockade,  established  and  en- 
forced according  to  accustomed  practice,  had  not  been  ob- 
jected to  by  the  United  States  at  the  time  it  was  issued. 
Its  provisions  were  on  the  contrary  represented  by  the  Ameri- 
can minister,  resident  in  London  at  the  time,  to  have  been  so 
framed  as  to  afford,  in  his  judgment,  a  proof  of  the  friendly 
disposition  of  the  British  government  towards  the  United 
States. 

Great  Britain  was  thus  called  upon  to  abandon  one  of  her 
most  important  maritime  rights ;  by  acknowledging  the  or- 
der of  blockade  in  question  to  be  one  of  the  edicts  which 
violated  the  commerce  of  the  United  States,  although  it  had 
never  been  so  considered  in  the  previous  negotiation;  and 
although  the  president  of  the  United  States  had  recently 
consented  to  abrogate  the  non-intercourse  act,  on  the  sole 
condition  of  the  orders  in  council  being  revoked ;  thereby 
distinctly  admitting  these  orders  to  be  the  only  edicts  which 
fell  within  the  contemplation  of  the  law,  under  which  he 
acted. 

A  proposition  so  hostile  to  Great  Britain  could  not  but  be 
proportionably  encouraging  to  the  pretensions  oi  the  enemy. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [23 

As  by  thus  alleging  that  the  blockade  of  May,  180?>,  was  ille- 
gal, the  American  government  virtually  justified,  so  far  as 
depended  on  them,  the  French  decrees. 

After  this  proposition  had  been  made,  the  French  minister 
of  foreign  affairs,  if  not  in  concert  with  government,  at  least 
in  conformity  with  its  views,  in  a  despatch  dated  the  5th  of 
August,  1810,  and  addressed  to  the  American  minister  re- 
sident at  Paris,  stated  that  the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees 
\vere  revoked,  and  that  their  operation  would  cease  from  the 
1st  day  of  November  following,  provided  his  majesty  would 
revoke  his  orders  in  council,  and  renounce  the  new  principles 
of  blockade  ;  or  that  the  United  States  would  cause  their 
rights  to  be  respected ;  meaning  thereby,  that  they  would  re- 
sist the  retaliatory  measures  of  Great  Britain. 

Although  the  repeal  of  the  French  decrees  thus  announced 
was  evidently  contingent,  either  on  concessions  to  be  made 
by  Great  Britain  (concessions  to  which  it  was  obvious  Great 
Britain  could  never  submit),  or  on  measures  to  be  adopted 
by  the  United  States  of  America;  the  American  president 
at  once  considered  the  repeal  as  absolute.  Under  that  pre- 
tence the  non-importation  act  wras  strictly  enforced  against 
Great  Britain,  whilst  the  ships  of  war  and  merchant  ships  of 
the  enemy  were  received  into  the  harbours  of  America. 

The  American  government,  assuming  the  repeal  of  the 
French  decrees  to  be  absolute  and  effectual,  most  unjustly 
required  Great  Britain,  in  conformity  to  her  declarations,  to 
revoke  her  orders  in  council.  The  British  government  de- 
nied that  the  repeal,  which  was  announced  in  the  letter  of  the 
French  minister  for  foreign  affairs,  was  such  as  ought  to  sa- 
tisfy Great  Britain ;  and  in  order  to  ascertain  the  true  cha- 
racter of  the  measure  adopted  by  France,  the  government  of 
the  United  States  was  called  upon  to  produce  the  instrument 
by  which  the  alleged  repeal  of  the  French  decrees  had  been 
effected.  If  these  decrees  were  really  revoked,  such  an  in- 
strument must  exist,  and  no  satisfactory  reason  could  be 
given  for  withholding  it. 

At  length,  on  the  21st  of  May,  1812,  and  not  before,  the 
American  minister  in  London  did  produce  a  copy,  or  at  least 
what  purported  to  be  a  copy  of  such  an  instrument. 

It  professed  to  bear  date  on  the  28th  of  April,  1811,  long 
subsequent  to  the  despatch  of  the  French  minister  of  foreign 
affairs  of  the  5th  August,  1810,  or  even  the  day  named  there- 
in, viz.  the  lot  of  November  following,  when  the  operation 
of  the  French  decrees  was  to  cease.  This  instrument  ex- 
tressly  declared  1  •  French  dc<—  •'•n]rr!  in 


consequence  of  thr  A'M;  :  .latuvc  having,  by  their  act 

of  the  ]  !,  provided,  that  Briti  ,h  ships  and 

merch:  :  •.  ludediVom  the  ports  aud  harbours 

of  ii 

By  this  instrument,  the  only  document  produced  by  Ame- 
repeal  of  the  French  decrees,  it  appears  beyond  s. 
possibility  of  doubt  or  cavil,  that  the  alleged  repeal  of  the 
French  decrees  was  conditional,  as  Great  Britain  had  assert- 
ed ;  and  not  absolute  or  final,  as  had  been  maintained  by- 
America  ;  that  they  were  not  repealed  in  conformity  with  a 
proposition  simultaneously  made  to  both  belligerents,  but  that 
in  consequence  of  a  previous  act  on  the  part  of  the  Ameri- 
can government,  they  were  repealed  in  favour  of  one  belli- 
gerent to  the  prejudice  of  the  other;  that  the  American  go- 
vernment having  adopted  measures  restrictive  upon  the  com- 
merce of  both  belligerents,  in  consequence  of  the  edicts 
issued  by  both,  rescinded  their  measures  as  they  affected  that 
power  which  was  the  aggressor,  whilst  they  put  them  in  full 
operation  against  the  party  aggrieved ;  although  the  edicts  of 
both  powers  continued  in  force ;  and,  lastly,  that  they  ex- 
cluded the  ships  of  war  belonging  to  one  belligerent,  whilst 
they  admitted  into  their  ports  and  harbours  the  ships  of  war 
belonging  to  the  other,  in  violation  of  one  of  the  plainest  and 
most  essential  duties  of  a  neutral  nation. 

Although  the  instrument  thus  produced  was  by  no  means 
thai  general  and  unqualified  revocation  of  the  Berlin  and  Mi- 
lan decrees,  which  Great  Britain  had  continually  demanded, 
and  had  a  lull  right  to  claim  ;  and  although  this  instrument, 
under  all  the  circumstances  of  its  appearance  at  that  moment, 
for  the  first  tinn ,  was  open  to  the  strongest  suspicions  of  its 
authenticity  ;  yet  as  the  minister  of  the  United  States  pro- 
duced it,  as  purporting  to  be  a  copy  of  the  instrument  of  re- 
vocation, the  government  of  Great  Britain  desirous  of  revert- 
ing, if  possible,  to  the  ancient  and  accustomed  principles  of 
maritime  war,  determined  upon  revoking  conditionally  the 
orders  in  council.  Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  June  last, 
his  royal  highness  the  prince  regent  was  pleased  to  declare  in 
council,  in  the  name  and  on  the  behalf  of  his  majesty,  that 
the  orders  in  council  should  be  revoked  as  far  as  respected 
the  ships  and  property  of  the  United  States  from  the  1st  of 
August  following.  The  revocation  was  to  continue  in  force, 
provided  the  government  of  the  United  States  should,  within 
a  time  to  be  limited,  repeal  their  respective  laws  against  Bri- 
tish commerce.  His  majesty's  minister  in  America  was  ex- 
pressly ordered  to  declare  to  the  government  of  the  TTn:- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  {2.3 

States,  that  "this  measure  had  been  adopted  by  the  prince 
regent  in  the  earnest  wish  and  hope,  either  that  the  govern- 
ment of  France,  by  further  relaxations  of  its  system,  might  . 
render  perseverance  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain  in  retalia- 
tory measures  unnecessary,  or  if  this  hone  should  prove  de- 
lusive, that  his  majesty's  'government  might  be  enabled,  in 
the  absence  of  all  irritating  and  restrictive  regulations  on  ei- 
ther side,  to  enter  with  the  government  of  the  United  States 
into  amicable  explanations,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
whether,  if  the  necessity  of  retaliatory  measures  should  un- 
fortunately continue  to  operate,  the  particular  measures  to  be 
acted  upon  by  Great  Britain  could  be  rendered  more  accept- 
able to  the  American  government,  than  those  hitherto  pur- 
sued." 

In  order  to  provide  for  the  contingency  of  a  declaration  of 
war  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  previous  to  the  arrival 
in  America  of  the  said  order  of  revocation,  instructions  were 
sent  to  his  majesty's  minister  plenipotentiary  accredited  to 
the  United  States  (the  execution  of  which  instructions,  in 
consequence  of  the  discontinuance  of  Mr.  Foster's  functions, 
were  at  a  subsequent  pt  riod  entrusted  to  admiral  sir  John 
Borlase  Warren),  directing  him  to  propose  a  cessation  of  hos- 
tilities, should  they  have  commenced  :  and  further  to  offer  a 
simultaneous  repeal  of  the  orders  in  council  on  one  side,  and 
of  the  restrictive  laws  on  British  ships  and  commerce  on  the 
other. 

They  were  also  respectively  empowered  to  acquaint  the 
American  government,  in  reply  to  any  enquiries  with  respect 
to  the  blockade  of  May,  1806,  whilst  the  British  government 
must  continue  to  maintain  its  legality,  "  that,  appoint  of  fact, 
this  particular  blockade  had  been  discontinued  for  a  length  of 
time,  having  been  merged  in  the  general  retaliatory  blockade 
of  the  enemy's  ports  under  the  orders  in  council,  and  that  his 
majesty's  government  had  no  intention  of  recurring  to  this, 
or  any  other  of  the  blockades  of  the  enemy's  ports  founded 
upon  the  ordinary  and  accustomed  principles  of  maritime 
law,  which  were  in  force  previous  to  the  orders  in  council, 
without  a  new  notice  to  neutral  powers  in  the  usual  form." 

The  American  government,  before  they  received  intimation 
of  the  course  adopted  by  the  British  government,  had  in  fact 
proceeded  to  the  extreme  measure  of  declaring  war  and  is- 
iuing  "letters  of  marque,"  notwithstanding  they  were  pre- 
,-iously  in  possession  of  the  French  minister  of  foreign  affairs' 
etterof  the   12th  of  March,    1812,  promulgating  anew  the 
ierlin  and  Milan  decrees,  as  fundamental  laws  of  the  French 

VOI-    I.    PART    II.  [E] 


26}  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

empire,  under  the  false  and  extravagant  pretext,  that  tl 
monstrous  principles  therein  contained  were  to  be  found  in 
the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  and  were  therefore  binding  upon  all 
states.  From  the  penalties  of  this  code  no  nation  was  to  he. 
exempt,  which  did  not  accept  it,  not  only  as  the  rule  of  its 
own  conduct,  but  as  a  law,  the  observance  of  which  it  was 
also  required  to  enforce  upon  Great  Britain. 

In  a  manifesto  accompanying  their  declaration  of  hostili- 
ties, in  addition  to  the  former  complaints  against  the  orders 
in  council,  a  long  list  of  grievances  was  brought  forward  ; 
some  trivial  in  themselves,  others  which  had  been  mutually 
adjusted,  but  none  of  them  such  as  were  ever  before  alleged 
by  the  American  government  to  be  grounds  for  war.  As  if 
to  throw  additional  obstacles  %m  the  way  of  peace,  the  Ame- 
rican congress  at  the  same  time  passed  a  law,  prohibiting  all 
intercourse  with  Great  Britain,  of  such  a  tenor,  as  deprived 
the  executive  government,  according  to  the  president's  own 
construction  of  that  act,  of  all  power  of  restoring  the  rela- 
tions of  friendship  and  intercourse  between  the  two  states, 
so  far  at  least  as  concerned  their  commercial  intercourse,  un- 
til congress  should  re-assemble. 

The  president  of  the  United  States  has,  it  is  true,  since 
proposed  to  Great  Britain  an  armistice  ;  not  however,  on  the 
admission  that  the  cause  of  war  hitherto  relied  on  was  re- 
moved; but  on  condition  that  Great  Britain,  as  a  preliminary 
step,  should  do  away  a  cause  of  war,  now  brought  forward 
as  such  for  the  first  time;  namely,  that  he  should  abandon 
the  exercise  of  the  undoubted  right  of  search,  to  take  from 
American  merchant  vessels  British  seamen,  the  natural  born' 
subjects  of  his  majesty;  ancl  this  concession  was  required 
upon  the  mere  assurance  that  laws  would'  be  enacted  by  the 
legislature  of  the  United  States,  to  prevent  such  seamen  from 
entering  into  their  service  ;  but,  independent  of  the  objection 
to  an  exclusive  reliance  on  a  foreign  state  for  the  conserva- 
tion of  so  vital  an  interest,  no  explanation  was  or  could  be 
afforded  by  the  agent  who  was  charged  with  this  overture, 
either  as  to  the  main  principles  upon  which  such  laws  were  to 
be  founded,  or  as  to  the  provisions  which  they  should  con- 
tain. This  proposition  having  been  objected  to,  a  second 
proposal  was  mv»de,  again  offering  an  armistice,  provided  the 
British  government  would  secretly  stipulate  to  renounce  the 
exercise  of  this  right  in  a  treat}1  of  peace.  An  immediate  and 
formal  abandonment  of  its  exercise,  as  preliminary  to  a  ces-.-' 
sation  of  hostilities,  was  not  demanded ;  but  his  royal  high- 
ness the  prince  recent  was  required,  in  the  name  and  on  the 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [-" 

behalf  of  his  majesty,  secretly  to  abandon  what  the  former 
overture  had  proposed  to  him  publicly  to  concede. 

This  most  offensive  proposition  was  also  rejected,  being 
accompanied,  as  the  former  had  been,  by  other  demands  of 
the  most  exceptionable  nature,  and  especially  of  indemnity 
for  all  American  vessels  detained  and  condemned  under  the 
orders  in  council,  or  under  what  were  termed  illegal  block- 
ades— a  compliance  with  which  demands,  exclusive  of  all 
other  objections,  would  have  amounted  to  an  absolute  sur- 
render of  the  rights  on  which  those  orders  and  blockades 
were  founded.  Had  the  American  government  been  sincere 
in  representing  the  orders  in  council  as  the  only  subject  of 
difference  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States  cal- 
culated to  lead  to  hostilities,  it  might  have  been  expected, 
so  soon  as  the  revocation  of  those  orders  had  been  officially 
made  known  to  them,  that  they  would  have  spontaneously 
recalled  their  "  letters  of  marque,"  and  manifested  a  dispo- 
sition immediately  to  restore  the  relations  of  peace  and 
amity  between  the  two  powers.  But  the  conduct  of  the  go- 
vernment of  the  United  States  by  no  means  corresponded 
with  such  reasonable  expectations.  The  order  in  council  of 
23d  June  being  officially  communicated  to  America,  the  go- 
vernment of  the  United  States  saw  nothing  in  the  repeal  of 
the  orders  in  council,  which  should  of  itself  restore  peace, 
unless  Great  Britain  were  prepared  in  the  first  instance  sub- 
stantially to  relinquish  the  right  of  impressing  her  own  sea- 
men, when  found  on  board  American  merchant  ships.  The 
proposal  of  an  armistice,  and  of  a  simultaneous  repeal  of  the 
restrictive  measures  on  both  sides,  subsequently  made  by  the 
commanding  officer  of  his  majesty's  naval  forces  on  the  Ame- 
rican coast,  were  received  in  the  same  hostile  spirit  by  the 
government  of  the  United  States.  The  suspension  of  the 
practice  of  impressment  was  insisted  upon  in  the  correspon- 
dence which  passed  on  that  occasion,  as  a  necessary  prelimi- 
nary to  a  cessation  of  hostilities.  Negotiation,  it  was  stated, 
might  take  place  without  any  suspension  of  the  exercise  of 
this  right;  and  also  without  any  armistice  being  concluded; 
but  Great  Britain  was  required  previously  to  agree,  without 
any  knowledge  of  the  adequacy  of  the  system  which  could  be 
substituted,  to  negotiate  upon  the  basis  of  accepting  the  le- 
gislative regulations  of  a  foreign  state,  as  the  sole  equivalent 
for  the  exercise  of  a  right,  which  she  has  felt  to  be  essential 
to  the  support  of  her  maritime  power. 

If  America,  by  demanding  the  preliminary  concession,  in- 
tends to  deny  the  validity  of  that  right,  in  that  denial  Great 


ili^  i  OKICAL  J%.; 

Britain  cannot  acquiesce  ;  nor  will  she  give  countenance 
such  a  pretension,  by  acceding  to  its  suspension,  m 
to  its  abandonment,  as  a  basis  on  which  to  treat.  If  the 
American  government  has  devised,  or  conceives  k  can  de- 
vise, regulations  which  may  safely  be  accepted  by  Great  Bri- 
tain, as  a  substitute  for  the  exercise  of  the  right  in  question, 
it  is  for  them  to  bring  forward  such  a  plan  for  consideration. 
The  British  government  has  never  attempted  to  exclude  this 
q  :es.ion  from  amongst  those  on  which  the  two  states  might 
have  to  negotiate:  it  has,  on  the  contrary,  uniformly  profess- 
ed its  readiness  to  receive  and  discuss  any  proposition  on 
this  subject,  coming  from  the  American  government:  it  has 
never  asserted  any  exclusive  right,  as  the  impressment  of 
British  seamen  from  American  vessels,  which  it  was  not 
prepared  to  acknowledge  as  appertaining  equally  to  the  go- 
vernment of  the  .United  States,  with  respect  to  American 
seamen  when  found  on  board  British  merchant  ships:  but 
it  cannot,  by  acceding  to  such  a  basis  in  the  first  instance, 
either  assume  or  admit  that  to  be  practicable,  which,  when 
attempted  on  former  occasions,  has  always  been  found  to  be 
attended  with  great  difficulties;  such  difficulties  as  the  Bri- 
tish commissioners  in  1806  expressly  declared,  after 'an  at- 
tentive consideration  of  the  suggestions  brought  forward  by 
the  commissioners  on  the  part  of  America,  they  were  unable 
to  surmount. 

Whilst  the  proposition  transmitted  through  the  British 
admiral  was  pending  in  America,  another  communication 
on  the  subject  of  an  armistice  was  unofficially  made  to  the 
British  government  in  this  country.  The  agent,  from  whom 
this  proposition  was  received,  acknowledged  that  he  did  not 
consider  that  he  had  any  authority  himself  to  sign  an  agree- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  government.  It  was  obvious  that 
any  stipulations  entered  into,  in  consequence  of  this  overture, 
would  have  been  binding  on  the  British  government,  whilst 
the  government  of  the  United  States  would  have  been  free 
to  refuse  or  accept  them,  according  to  the  circumstances  of 
the  moment.  This  proposition  was  therefore  necessarily  de- 
clined. 

After  this  exposition  of  the  circumstances  which  prece- 
ded and  which  have  followed  the  declaration  of  war  by  the 
United  States,  his  royal  b;  ince  regent,  acting  in 

the  nnme  and  on  the  behalf  of  his  majesty,  feels  himseli  call- 
ed upon  to  declare   the  leading  principles    by  which  the  con- 
duct of  Great  Britain  has  been  regulated  in  the  transactions 
-,'nnected  with  these  discussic 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

His  royal  highness  can  never  acknowledge  any  blockade 
whatsoever  to  be  illegal  which  has  been  duly  notified,  and  is 
supported  by  an  adequate  force,  merely  upon  the  ground  of 
its  extent,  or  because  the  ports  or  coasts  blockaded  are  not 
at  the  same  time  invested  by  land.  His  royal  highness  can 
never  admit  that  neutral  trade  with  Great  Britain  can  be  con- 
stituted a  public  crime,  the  commission  of  which  can  expose 
the  ships  of  any  power  whatever  to  be  denationalized.  His 
royal  highness  can  never  admit  that  Great  Britain  can  be  de- 
barred of  its  rights  of  just  and  necessary  retaliation,  through 
the  fear  of  eventually  affecting  the  interest  of  a  neutral.  His 
royal  highness  can  never  admit  that  the  exercise  of  the 
undoubted  and  hitherto  undisputed  right  of  searching  neu- 
tral merchant  vessels  in  time  of  war,  for  the  impressment  of 
British  seamen,  when  found  therein,  can  be  deemed  any  vio- 
lation of  a  neutral  flag.  Neither  can  he  admit  that  the 
taking  such  seamen  from  on  board. such  vessels  can  be  con- 
sidered by  any  neutral  state  as  a  hostile  measure,  or  a  justifi- 
able cause  of  war. 

There  is  no  right  more  clearly  established  than  the  right 
which  a  sovereign  has  to  the  allegiance  of  his  subjects,  more 
especially  in  time  of  war.  Their  allegiance  is  no  optional 
duty,  which  they  can  decline  and  resume  at  pleasure.  It  is 
a  call  which  they  are  bound  to  obey ;  it  began  with  their 
birth,  and  can  only  terminate  with  their  existence.  If  a 
similarity  of  language  and  manners  may  make  the  exercise 
of  this  right  more  liable  to  partial  mistakes  and  occasional 
abuse,  when  practised  towards  vessels  of  the  United  States, 
the  same  circumstances  make  it  also  a  right,  with  the  exer- 
cise of  which  in  regard  to  such  vessels  it  is  more  difficult  to 
dispense.  But  if  to  this  practice  of  the  United  States,  to 
harbour  British  seamen,  be  added  their  assumed  right  to 
'transfer  the  allegiance  of  British  subjects,  and  thus  to  cancel 
the  jurisdiction  of  their  legitimate  sovereign,  by  acts  of 
naturalization  and  certificates  of  citizenship,  which  they  pre- 
tend to  be  as  valid  out  of  their  own  territory  as  within  it,  it 
is  obvious  that  to  abandon  this  ancient  right  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, and  to  admit  thrse  several  pretensions  of  the  United 
Suites,  would  be  to  expose  to  danger  the  very  foundation  of 
our  rmritime  strength. 

Without  entering  minutely  into1  the  other  topics,  which 
have  been  broMght  forward  by  the  government  of  the  United 
Slates,  it  mav  be  proper  to  remark,  that  vvhatever  the  decla- 
ration of  the  United  States  may  have  asserted,  Great  Britain 
never  did  demand,  that  they  should  force  British  manufac- 


HISTORICAL  UEGIS'l  Lli. 

tnres  into  France;  and  she  formally  declared  her  willingness 
entirely  to  forego,  or  modify,  in  concert  with  the  Uuite< 
States,  the  system,  by  which  a  commercial  intercourse  witl 
the  enemy  had  been  allowed  under  the  protection  of  licenses, 
provided  the  United  States  would  act  towards  her,  an< 
towards  France,  with  real  impartiality.  The  government 
America,  if  the  differences  between  states  are  not  intermina- 
blr,  has  as  little  right  to  notice  the  affair  of  the  Chesapeake. 
The  aggression,  in  this  instance,  on  the  part  of  a  British 
officer,  was  acknowledged,  his' conduct  was  disapproved,  and  a 
reparation  was  regularly  tendert  d  by  Mr.  Foster  on  the  part 
of  his  majesty,  and  accepted  by  the  government  of  the  Uni- 
ted States.  It  is  not  less  unwarranted  in  its  allusion  to  the 
mission  of  Mr.  Henry ;  a  mission  undertaken  without  the 
authority,  or  even  knowledge  of  his  majesty's  government, 
and  which  Mr.  Foster  was  authorized  formally  and  officially 
to  disavow.  The  charge  of  exciting  the  Indians  to  offensive 
measures  against  the  United  States  is  equally  void  of  foun- 
dation. Before  the  war  began,  a  policy  the  most  opposite 
had  been  uniformly  pursued,  and  proof  of  this  was  tendered 
by  Mr.  Foster  to  the  American  government.  Such  are  the 
causes  of  war  which  have  been  put  forward  by  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States.  But  the  real  origin  of  the  pre- 
sent contest  will  be  found  in  that  spirit  which  has  long  un- 
happily actuated  the  councils  of  the  United  States ;  their 
marked  partiality7  in  palliating  and,  assisting  the  aggressive 
tyranny  of  France;  their  systematic  endeavours  to  inflame 
their  people  against  the  defensive  means  of  Great  Britain  ; 
their  ungenerous  conduct  tov/ards  Spain,  the  intimate  ally  of 
Great  Britain ;  and  their  unworthy  desertion  o'f  the  cause  of 
other  neutral  nations.  It  is  through  the  prevalence  of  such 
councils  that  America  has  been  associated  in  policy  with 
France,  and  committed  in  war  against  Great  Britain. 

And  under  what  conduct  on  the  part  of  France  has  the 
government  of  the  United  States  thus  lent  itself  to  the  ene- 
my? The  contemptuous  violation  of  the  commercial  treaty 
of  the  year  1800  between  France  and  the  United  States;  the 
treacherous  seizure  of  all  American  vessels  and  cargoes  in 
all  harbours  subject  to  the  controul  of  the  French  arms ;  the 
tyrannical  principles  of  the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees,  and 
the  confiscations  under  them  ;  the  subsequent  condemnation 
under  the  Rambouillet  decree,  antedated  or  concealed  to  ren- 
der it  the  more  effectual ;  the  French  commercial  regulations 
which  render  the  traffic  of  the  United  States  with  France  al- 
most illusory ;  the  burning  of  their  merchant  ships,  at  sea, 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [31 

long  after  the  alleged  repeal  of  the  French  decrees — all  these 
acts  of  violence  on  the  part  of  France  produce  from  the  go- 
vernment of  the  United  States  only  such  complaints  as  end 
in  acquiescence  and  submission,  or  are  accomp-inied  by  sug- 
gestions for  enabling  France  to  give  the  semblance  of  a  legal 
form  to  her  usurpations,  by  converting  them  into  municipal 
regulations. 

This  diposition  of  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
this  complete  subserviency  to  the  ruler  of  France,  this  hos- 
tile temper  towards  Great  Britain,  are  evident  in  almost  every 
page  of  the  official  correspondence  of  the  American  with 
the  French  government.  Against  this  course  of  conduct, 
the  real  cause  of  the  present  war,  the  prince  regent  solemnly 
protests.  Whilst  contending  against  France,  in  defence  not 
only  of  the  liberties  of  Great  Britain,  but  of  the  world,  his 
royal  highness  was  entitled  to  look  for  a  far  different  result. 
From  their  common  origin — from  their  common  interests-^- 
from  their  professed  principles  of  freedom  and  independence, 
the  United  States  were  the  last  power,  in  which  Great  Bri- 
tain could  have  expected  to  find  a  willing  instrument  and 
abettor  of  French  tyranny.  Disappointed  in  this  his  just  ex- 
pectation, the  prince  regent  will  still  pursue  the  policy,  which 
the  British  government  has  so  long  and  invariably  maintain- 
ed, in  repelling  injustice,  and  in  supporting  the  general 
rights  of  nations ;  and,  under  the  favour  of  Providence,  re- 
lying on  the  justice  of  his  cause,  and  the  tried  loyalty  and 
firmness  of  the  British  nation,  his  royal  highness  confidently 
looks  forward  to  a  successful  issue  to  the  contest,  in  which 
he  has  thus  been  compelled  most  reluctantly  to  engage. 

Westminster,  January  9,  1813. 


By 


AMERICAN    AND    BRITISH    PROCLAMATIONS    ON    THE 
INVASION    OF    CANADA. 


William  H-dll,  Brigadier -General  and  Commander  of  the 
North-Western  Army  of  the  United  States, 

A    PROCLAMATION. 

Inhabitants  of  Canada !  After  thirty  years  of  peace  and 
prosperity,  the  United  States  have  been  driven  to  arms.  The 
injuries  and  aggressions,  the  insults  and  indignities  of  Great 
Britain  have  once  more  left  them  no  alternative  but  manly 
resistance  or  unconditional  submission.  The  army  under 

v  roirftr.unr]  has  invaded  vour  mnntn*,  and  the  standard  of 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

the  Union  now  waves  over  the  territory  of  Canada.     To  tl 
peaceable  unoffending  inhabitant  it  brings  neither  clanger  nor 
difficulty.     I  come   to  find   enemies,  not  to  make  them, 
come  to  protect,  not  to  injure  you. 

Separated  by  an  immtT.se  ocean  and  an  extensive  wildei 
ness  from  Great  Britain,  you  have  no  participation  in  he 
councils,  no  interest  in  her  conduct — you  have  felt  her 
ranny,  you  have  seen  her  injustice  ;  but  I  do  not  ask  you  to 
avenge  the  one,  or  to  redress  the  other.  The  United  States 
are  sufficientlv  powerful  to  afford  every  security  consistent 
with  their  rights  and  your  expectations.  I  tender  you  the 
invaluable  blessings  of  civil,  political,  and  religious  liberty, 
and  their  necessary  result,  individual  and  general  prosperity. 
— That  liberty  which  gave  decision  to  our  councils,  and 
energy  to  our  conduct  in  a  struggle  for  independence,  and 
which  conducted  us  safely  and  triumphantly  through  the 
stormy  period  of  the  revolution.  That  liberty,  which  has 
raised  us  to  an  elevated  rank  among  the  nations  of  the  world  ; 
and  which  afforded  us  a  greater  measure  of  peace  and  se cu- 
rity,  of  wealth  and  improvement,  than  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of 
any  people. 

In  the  name  of  my  country,  and  by  the  authority  of  go- 
vernment, I  promise  you  protection  to  your  persons,  pro- 
perty, and  rights  ;  remain  at  your  homes  ;  pursue  your  peace- 
ful and  customary  avocations;  raise  not  your  hands  against 
your  brethren — Many  of  your  fathers  fought  for  the  freedom 
and  independence  we  now  enjoy.  Being  children,  therefore, 
of  the  same  family  with  us,  and  heirs  to  the  same  heritage, 
the  arrival  of  an  army  of  friends  must  be  hailed  bv  you  with 
a  cordial  welcome.  You  will  be  emancipated  from  tyranny 
and  oppression,  and  restored  to  the  dignified  station  of  free- 
men. Had  I  any  doubt  of  eventual  success,  I  might  ask 
your  assistance,  but  I  do  not.  I  come  prepared  for  every 
contingency — I  have  a  force  which  will  look  down  all  oppo- 
sition, and  that  force  is  but  the  vanguard  of  a  much  greater! 
If;  contrary  to  your  own  interests  and  the  just  expectations 
of  my  country,  you  should  take  part  in  the  approaching  con- 
test,' you  will  be  considered  and  treated  as  and  the 
horrors  and  calamities  of  war  will  stalk  before  you.  If  the 
barbarous  and  savage  policy  of  Great  Britain  be  pursued,  and 
the  savages  are  let  loose  to  murder  our  eitizens,  and  butcher 
,  our  women  and  children,  this  war  will  be  a  war  of  extermi- 
nation. The  first  stroke  of  the  tomahawk — the  first  attempt 
with  the  scalping  knife,  will  be  the  signal  of  one  indiscrimi- 
;'e  of  dcsolaii  white  man  found  f:ghtim- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

the  ilde  oi'  an  Indian  will  bo  taken  prisoner:  instant  destruc- 
tion will  be  his  lot.  If  the  dictates  of  reason,  duty,  justice,  and 
humanity,  cannot  prevent  the  employment  of  a  force  which 
•ects  no  rights,  and  knows  no  wrong,  i'c  will  be  prevented 
by  a  severe  .UK!  relentless  system  of  retaliation.  I  doubt  not 
your  courage  and  firmness — I  will  iiot  doubt  your  attachment 
to  liberty.  If  you  tender  your  services  voluntarily,  they  will 
be  accepted  readily. — The  United  States  offer  you  peace,  li- 
berty and  security — vour  choice  lies  between  these  and  war — 
slavery  and  destruction.  Choose  then,  but,  choose  wisely.; 
and  may  He  who  knows  the  justice  of  our  cause,  and  who 
holds  in  his  hand  the  fate  of  nations,  guide  you  to  a  result 
the  most  compatible  with  your  rights  and  interests,  your 
peace  and  happiness. 

WILLIAM  HULL. 
Headquarters,  Sandwich,  July  12,  1312. 
By  the  general, 

A.  P.  HULL,  capt.  of  the  13th  U.  S.  regt. 
of  infantry  and  aid-de-camp. 


PROCLAMATION. 

The  unprovoked  declaration  of  war,  by  the  United  States 
of  America,  against  the  united  kingdom  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland  and  its  dependencies,  has  been  followed  by  the 
actual  invasion  of  this  province  in  a  remote  frontier  of  the 
western  district  by  a  detachment  of  the  armed  force  of  the 
United  States.  The  officer  commanding  that  detachment: 
has  thought  proper  to  invite  his  majesty's  subjects  not  merely 
to  a  quiet  and  unresisting  submission,  but  insults  them  with 
a  call  to  seek  voluntarily  the  protection  of  his  government. 
\Vithout  condescending  to  repeat  the  illiberal  epithets  be- 
,  in  this  appeal  of  the  American  commander  to  the 
>ple  of  Upper  Canada,  on  the  administration  of  his  ma- 

:sty,  every  inhabitant  of  the  province  is  desired  to  seek  the 
confutation  of  such  indecent  slander  in  the  review  of  his  own 
particular  circumstances.  Where  is  the  Canadian  subject  who 
can  truly  affirm  to  himself  that  he  has  been  injured  by  the 
government  in  his  person,  his  liberty,  or  his  property?  Where 

K3  be  found,  in  any  part  of  the  world,  a  growth  so  rapid 
vealth  and  prosperity  as  this  colony  exhibits  ?  Settled,  not 
ty  years,  by  a  band  of  veterans  exiled  from  their  former 
sessions  on  account  of  their  loyalty,  not  a  descendant  of 
se  bravo  people  js  to  be  found,  who,  under  the  fostering 
lity  •••'•  1 11  ii"  sov.roigii,  lia:  pot  . 


34]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

means  of  enjoyment  superior  to  what  were  possessed  bytheit 
ancestors. 

This  unequalled  prosperity  could  not  have  been  attained 
by  the  utmost  liberality  of  the  government  or  the  persevering 
industry  of  the  people,  had  not  the  maritime  power  of  the 
mother  country  secured  to  its  colonies  a  safe  access  to  every 
market  where  the  produce  of  their  labour  was  in  demand. 

The  unavoidable  and  immediate  consequence  of  a  separa- 
tion from  Great  Britain  must  be  the  loss  of  this  inestimable 
advantage  j  and  what  is  offered  you  in  exchange — to  become 
a  territory  of  the  United  States,  and  share  with  them  that 
seclusion  from  the  ocean,  wThich  the  policy  of  their  present 
government  enforces — you  are  not  even  flattered  with  a  par- 
ticipation of  their  boasted  independence,  and  it  is  but  too 
obvious  that,  once  exchanged  from  the  powerful  protection  of 
the  United  Kingdom,  you  must  be  re-annexed  to  the  domi- 
nion of  France,  from  which  the  provinces  of  Canada  were 
wrested  by  the  arms  of  Great  Britain,  at  a  vast  expense  of 
blood  and  treasure,  from  no  other  motive  but  to  relieve  her 
ungrateful  children  from  the  oppression  of  a  cruel  neighbour 
— this  restitution  of  Canada  to  the  empire  of  France  was  the 
stipulated  reward  for  the  aid  afforded  to  the  revolted  colonies, 
now  the  United  States — the  debt  is  still  due,  and  there  can 
be  no  doubt  but  the  pledge  has  been  renewed  as  a  considera- 
tion for  commercial  advantages,  or  rather  for  an  expected 
relaxation  in  the  tyranny  of  France  over  the  commercial 
world.  Are  you  prepared,  inhabitants  of  Upper  Canada, 
to  become  willing  subjects  or  rather  slaves  to  the  despot  who 
rules  the  nations  of  Europe  with  a  rod  of  iron?  If  not,  arise 
in  a  body,  exert  your  energies,  co-operate  cordially  with  the 
king's  regular  forces,  to  repel  the  invader,  and  do  not  give 
cause  to  your  children,  when  groaning  under  the  oppression 
of  a  foreign  master,  to  reproach  you  with  having  too  easily 
parted  with  the  richest  inheritance  of  this  earth — a  participa- 
tion in  the  name,  character,  ancl  freedom  of  Britons. 

The  same  spirit  of  justice,  which  will  make  every  reason- 
able allowance  for  the  unsuccessful  efforts  of  zeal  and  loy- 
alty, will  not  fail  to  punish  the  defalcation  of  principle  ;  every 
Canadian  freeholder  is  by  deliberate  choice  bound  by  the 
most  solemn  oaths  to  defend  the  monarchy  as  well  as  his 
own  property ;  to  shrink  from  that  engagement  is  a  treason 
not  to  be  forgiven  ;  let  no  man  suppose  that  if  in  this  unex- 
pected struggle  his  majesty's  arms  should  be  compelled  to 
yield  to  an  overwhelming  force,  the  province  will  be  cvcntu- 

•<m  of"  jt^  in-pt  sertl 


OFFICIAL  .DOCUMENTS. 

intrinsic  value  of  its  commerce,  and  the  pretensions  of  its 
powerful  rival  to  repossess  the  Canadas,  are  pledges  that  no 
peace  will  be  established  by  the  United  States  and  Great  Bri- 
tain and  Ireland,  of  which  the  restoration  of  these  provinces 
does  not  make  the  most  prominent  condition. 

Be  not  dismayed  at  the  unjustifiable  threat  of  the  com- 
mander of  the  enemy's  forces,  to  refuse  quarter  should  an 
Indian  appear  in  the  ranks.  The  brave  band  of  natives  which 
inhabit  this  colony  were,  like  his  majesty's  subjects,  punished 
for  their  zeal  and  fidelity  by  the  loss  of  their  possessions  in 
the  late  colonies,  and  rewarded  by  his  majesty  with  lands  ol 
superior  value  in  this  province :  the  faith  of  the  British  go- 
vernment has  never  yet  been  violated ;  they  feel  that  the  soil 
they  inherit  is  to  them  and  their  posterity  protected  from  the 
base  arts  so  frequently  devised  to  overreach  their  simplicity. 
By  what  new  principles  are  they  to  be  prevented  from  de- 
fending their  property  ?  If  their  warfare,  from  being  differ- 
ent to  that  of  the  white"  people,  is  more  terrific  to  the  enemy, 
let  him  retrace  his  steps — they  seek  him  not — and  cannot  ex- 
cect  to  find  women  and  chikfren  in  an  invading  army ;  but 
tneVaremen,  and  have  equal  rights  with  other  men  to  defend 
themselves  and  their  property  when  invaded,  more  especially 
when  they  find  in  the  enemy's  camp  a  ferocious  and  mortal 
foe  using  the  same  warfare  which  the  American  commander 
affects  to  reprobate. 

This  inconsistent  and  unjustifiable  threat  of  refusing  quar- 
ter for  such  a  cause  as  being  found  in  arms  with  a  brother 
sufferer  in  defence  of  invaded  rights,  must  be  exercised  with 
the  certain  assurance  of  retaliation,  not  only  in  the  limited 
operations  of  war  in  this  part  of  the  king's  dominions,  but 
in  every  quarter  of  the  globe:  for  the  national  character  of 
Britain  is  not  less  distinguished  for  humanity  than  strict  re- 
tributive justice,  which  will  consider  the  execution  of  this 
inhuman  threat  as  deliberate  murder,  for  which  every  sub- 
ject of  the  offending  power  must  make  expiation. 

ISAAC  BROCK,  Maj.  Gen.  and  Prey. 

Head  Quarters,  Fart  George*  2~2<f  July,  1812. 
By  order  of  his  honour  the  president. 

J.  B.  GLEGG,  Capt.  A.  D.  G. 

GOD   SAVE   THE   KING. 


36]  :UCAL  REGISTl'/K. 

AMERICAN    AND    BRl'i  TS    OV    T  OF 

MICHII4.1MACKUI 

Detroit,  -  -7,  1812. 

Sir,  I  take  the  earliest  opportunity  «to   acquaint  youi 
cellcncy  of  the  surrender  of  ;  ison  of  -iac- 

kinac,  under  my  command,  to  his  Britannic  majesty's  forces 
under  the  command  of  captain  Charles  Roberts,  on  the  17tl 
ult.  The1  particulars  of  which  are  as  follow: 

On  the  16th,  I  was  informed  by  the  Indian  interpreter, 
that  he  had  discovered  from  an  Indian  that  the  several  na- 
tions of  Indians  then  at  St.  Joseph,  (a  British  garrison,  dis- 
tant forty  miles,)  intended  to  make  an  immediate  attack  on 
Michillimackinac.  I  was  inclined,  from  the  coolness  I  had 
discovered  in  some  of  the  principal  chiefs  of  the  Ottawa  and 
Chippa\va  nations,  who  had  but  a  few  clays  before  professed 
the  greatest  friendship  for  the  United  States,  to  place  con- 
fidence in  this  report.  I  immediately  called  a  meetin;, 
the  American  gentlemen  at  that  time  on  the  island,  in  which 
it  was  thought,  proper  to  despatch  a  confidential  person  to  S^:. 
Joseph  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  Indians.  Captain  1). 
man,  of  the  militia,  was  thought  the  most  suitable  for  this 
service.  He  embarked  about  sunset,  and  met  the  British 
forces  within  ten  or  fifteen  miles  of  the  island,  by  whom  he 
was  made  prisoner,  and  put  on  his  parole  of  honour, 
was  landed  on  the  island  at  day  break,  with  positive  direc- 
tions to  give  me  no  intelligence  whatever.  He  was  also  in- 
structed to  take  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  indiscriminately 
to  a  place  on  the  west  side  of  the  island,  where  their  per- 
sons and  property  should  be  protected  by  a  British  guard  ; 
but  should  they  go  to  the  fort,  they  would  be  subject  to  a 
general  massacre  by  the  savages,  which  would  i;o  inevitable: 
if  the  garrison  fired  a  gun.  This  information  I  received 
from  Dr.  Day,  who  was  passing  through  the  village  when 
every  person  was  flying  for  refuge  to  the  enemv.  Immedi- 
ately on  being  informed  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy, -I 
placed  ammunition,  &;c.  in  the  block  houses  ;  ordered  f 
gun  charged,  and  made  e\  :;m  for  action.  About 

9  o'clock  I  could  discover  that  the  enemy  v.  r  .    '.n  pops<  >sion 
of  the  heights  that  commanded  the  fort,    and  one   pi 
their  artillery  directed  to  the  most  defenceless  part  of 
garrison.     The  Indians  at  this  time  were  to  be  seen  in  ;  < 
numbers  in  the  edge  of  the  woods.     At  h?.lf  past  1 1  o'clock 
the  enemy  sent  in  a  Hug  of  truce,  demanding  a  surrenoVi 
the  fort  and  island  !'•>  IPS   Britannic  majesty's  foircs.     T 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 


0< 


was  the  first  information  I  had  of  the  declaration  of  war  ; 
I,  however,  had  anticipated  it,  and  was  as  well  prepared  to 
meet  such  an  event  as  I  possibly  could  have  been  with  the 
force  und.ir  my  command,  amounting  to  fifty-seven  effective 
men,  including  officers.  Three  American  gentlemen,  who 
^^ere  prisoners,  were  permitted  to  accompany  the  flag:  from 
them  I  ascertained  the  strength  of  the  enemy  to  br  from  nine 
huudred  to  on>  thousand  strong,  consisting  of  rt-gular  troops, 
Canadians,  and  savages ;  that  they  had  two  pieces  of  artille- 
ry, and  were  provided  with  ladders  and  ropes  for  the  pur- 
pose of  scaling  the  works  if  necessary.  After  I  had  obtained 
this  information,  I  consulted  my  officers  and  also  the  Ameri- 
can gentlemen  present,  who  were  very  intelligent  men ;  the 
result  of  which  was,  that  it  was  impossible  for  the  garrison 
to  hold  out  against  such  a  superior  force.  In  this  opinion  I 
fully  concurred,  from  conviction  that  it  was  the  only  measure 
that  could  prevent  a  general  massacre.  The  fort  and  garri- 
son were  accordingly  surrendered. 

The  enclosed  papers  exhibit  copies  of  the  correspon- 
dence between  the  officer  commanding  the  British  .forces 
and  myself,  and  of  the  articles  of  capitulation.  This  subject 
involved  questions  of  a  peculiar  nature ;  and  I  hope,  sir,  that 
my  demands  and  protests  will  meet  the  approbation  of  my 
government.  I  cannot  allow  this  opportunity  to  escape  with- 
out expressing  my  obligation  to  Dr.  Day,  for  the  service  he 
rendered  me  in  conducting  this  correspondence. 

In  consequence  of  this  unfortunate  affair,  I  beg  leave, 
hir,  to  demand  that  a  court  of  enquiry  may  be  ordered  to  in- 
vestigate all  the  facts  connected  with  it;  and  I  do  further  re- 
quest, that  the  court  may  be  speedily  directed  to  express  their 
opinion  on  the  merits  of  the  case.  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

P.  HANKS,  Lieutenant  of  Artillery.       ' 
Il'is  Excellency  Gen.  Hull,  comr^anding  the  N.  W.  Army. 

P.  S.  The  following  particulars  relative  to  the  British 
force  were  obtained  after  the  capitulation,  from  a  source  tha" 
admits  of  no  doubt :  Regular  troops,  46,  (including  4  officers,) 
Canadian  militia,  260.  Total,  308. 

Savages — Sioux,  56  ;  Winnebagoes,  48  ;  Tallesawains,  39  ; 
Chippawas  and  Ottawas,  572. 

Savages,  715  ;  Whites,  306.     Total,  1021. 

It  may  also  be  remarked,  that  one  hundred  and  fifty 
Chippawas  and  Ottawas  .joined  the  British  two  days  after 
the  capitulation.  P.  HANKS. 

-dove  Afichillimackinac,  irth  of  July,  1812.  - 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

CAPITULATION, 

Agreed  upon  between  Captain  Charles  Roberts,  commanding 
his  Britannic  majesty's  forces  an  the  one  part,  and  Lieute- 
nant Porter  Hanks,  commanding  the  forces  of  the  United 
States^  on  the  other  part* 

1st  The  fort  of  Michillimackinac   shall  immediately  be 
surrendered  to  the  British  forces. 

2d  The  garrison  shall  march  out  with  the  honours  of 
war,  lay  down  their  arms,  and  become  prisoners  of  war ;  and 
shall  be  sent  to  the  United  States  of  America  by  his  Britan- 
nic majesty,  not  to  serve  this  war,  until  regularly  exchanged : 
and  for  the  due  performance  of  this  article,  the  officers  pledge 
their  word  and  honour. 

3d  All  the  merchant  vessels  in  the  harbour,  with  their 
cargoes,  shall  be  in  possession  of  their  respective  owners. 

4th  Private  property  shall  be  held  sacred  as  far  as  it  is 
in  my  power. 

5th  All  citizens  of  the  United  States,  who  shall  not 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  his  Britannic  majesty,  shall  de- 
part with  their  property  from  the  island  in  one  month  from 
the  date  hereof. 

(Signed)  CHARLES  ROBERTS, 

Capt.  commanding'  the  forces  of  his  Britannic  majesty. 

P.  HANKS,' 

Lieut,  commanding  the  United  States  troops. 
Supplement  to  the  articles   of  capitulation  signed  on  the 
17th  July: 

The  captains  and  crews  of  the  vessels  Erie  and  -Free- 
goodwill  shall  be  included  under  the  second  article,  not  to 
serve  until  regularly  exchanged,  for  which  the  officers  shall 
pledge  their  word  and  honour. 

Fort  Michillimackinac,  17th  July,  1812. 

CHARLES  ROBERTS, 
Capt.  commanding  the  forces  of  his  Britannic  majesty. 

GRANTED, 

P    HANKS, 

Lieut,  commanding  the  United  States'  forces. 

Makina,  July  18,  1812. 

Dear  sir,  I  am  happy  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  announce 
to  you,  that  fort  Makina  capitulated  to  us  on  the  17th  inst. 
at  11  o'clock,  A.  M.  capt.  Roberts  at  our  head,  with  part  of 
the  10th  regiment,  5th battalion:  Mr.  Crawford  had  the  com- 
mand of  the  Canadians,  which  consisted  of  about  20O  men  ; 
Mr.  Dickson,  113  Sioux,  Forlavoins,  and  Winebagoes  ;  my- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [39 

self  about  280  men,  Attawas  and  Chippawas  ;  part  of  the 
Attawas  of  L'harb  Cooche  had  not  arrived.  It  was  a  fortu- 
nate circumstance  that,  the  fort  capitulated  without  firing  a 
single  gun  j  had  they  not  done  so,  I  firmly  believe  not  a  soul 
of  them  would  have  been  saved.  My  son,  Charles  Long- 
lade,  Augustine  Nolin,  and  Michelle  Cadotte,  jun.  have 
rendered  me  great  service  in  keeping  the  Indians  in  order, 
and  executing  from  time  to  time  such  commands  as  were  de- 
livered to  me  by  the  commanding  officer.  I  never  saw  so 
determined  a  set  of  people  as  the  Chippawas  and  Attawas 
were. 

Since  the  capitulation  they  have  not  drank  a  single  drop  of 
liquor,  nor  even  killed  a  fowl  belonging  to  any  person — a 
thing  never  known  before  ;  for  they  generally  destroy  every 
thing  they  meet  with.  I  am,  dear  sir,  your  most  obedient 
servant, 

(Signed)  JOHN  ASKIN,  jun. 

Str.  Keep.  Dep. 

The  Hon.  Col.  W.  Claus,  &?c.  fc?c.  Fort  George. 


ATTACK   OS   THE    BRITISH    ADVANCED    POSTS    AT   THE 

I  RIVER    AUX    CANARDS. 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  Col-  Cass  to  Gen.  Hull. 
Sandwich,  Upper  Canada,  July  17,  1812. 
Sir,  in  conformity  with  your  instructions,  I  proceeded 
with  a  detachment  of  280  men,  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  ad- 
vanced posts.  We  found  them  in  possession  of  a  bridge 
over  the  river  Aux  Canards,  at  the  distance  of  four  miles 
from  Maiden.  After  examining  their  position,  I  left  one  com- 
pany of  riflemen,  to  conceal  themselves  near  the  bridge,  and 
upon  our  appearance  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  to 
commence  firing,  in  order  to  divert  their  attention,  and  to 
throw  them  into  confusion.  I  then  proceeded  with  the  remain- 
der of  the  force  about  five  miles,  to  a  ford  over  the  river 
Aux  Canards,  and  down  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  river. 
About  sunset  we  arrived  within  sight  of  the  enemy.  Being 
entirely  destitute  of  guides,  we  marched  too  near  the  bank 
of  the  river,  and  found  our  progress  checked  by  a  creek, 
which  was  then  impassable.  We,  were  then  compelled  to 
march  up  a  mile,  in  order  to  effect  a  passage  over  the  creek. 
This  gave  the  enemy  time  to  make  their  arrangements,  and 
prepare  for  their  defence.  On  coming  down  ti<"  n  <^V  wr- 


. 

i  them  formt  •  urnmenced  a  : 

quetry.     The  riflemen  of  the  detaclwnent  were  ibrn; 
the  wings,  and  the  two  companies  of  infantry  in  th< 
The  men  moved  on  with  great  spirit  and  alacrity.     After 
first  discharge  the  British  retreats! — we   continued  ad1 
cingr.    Three  times  they  formed,  an  das  often  reiivated.  V/e 
drove  them  about  half  a  mile,  when  it  became  so  dark  that 
we  were  obliged  to  relinquish  the  pursuit.     Two  privates  in 
the  41st  regiment  were  wounded  and  taken  pr!  We 

learn  from  deserters,  that  nine  or  ten  were  wounded,  and 
some  killed.     We  could  gain  no  precise  information  of  the 
number  opposed  to  us.     It  consisted  of  a   considerable 
tachment  from  the  41st  regiment,  some  rnilitia,  and  a  1 
of  Indians.      The  guard  at  the  bridge  consisted  of  50  men. 
Our  riflemen  stationed  on  this  side  the  river  Aux  Canards, 
discovered  the  enemy  reinforcing  them  during  the  whok 
ternoon.     There  is  no  doubt  but  their  number  considerably 
exceeded  ours.  Lieutenant-col.  Miller  conducted  in  the  most: 
spirited  and  able  manner.     I  have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied 
with  the  conduct  of  the  whole  detachment. 

Very  respectfully,  sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  be  you; 
d  ient  servant, 

(Signed)  LEWIS  CASS,  Col.  3d.  fag.  0, 

His  excellency  Brig.  Gen.  Hull. 


',  MFRTCAN*    AND    BRITISH    ACCOUNTS    OF    THE    SURREND. 

•  DER    GENERAL    I" 

Montreal,  September  8,  1812. 

Sir,  toe  inclosed  despatch  was  prepared  on  my  arrival  a ; 
L('ort  George,  and  it  was  my  intention  to  have  forwarded  it 
from  that  place  by  major  Witherell,  of  the  Michigan  volun- 
teers.    I  made  application  to  the  commanding  officer  at  that 
post,  and  was  refused;  he  stating  that  he  was  not  author; 
and  general  Brock  was  then  at  York.    We  were  immedi; : 
embarked  for  this  place,  and  major  Witherell  obtained  liber- 
ty at  Kingston  to  go  home  on  parole. 

This  is  the  first  opportunity  I  have  had  to  forward  the 
despatches. 

The  fourth  United  States'  regiment  is  destined  for  Que- 
bec, with  a  part  of  the  first*  The  whole  consist  of  a  little 
over  thn.  c  hundred. 

Sir  '• 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

ike  my  parole,  and  permit  me  to  proceed 
states. 

Lieutenant  Anderson,  of  the  eighth  regiment,  is  the  bear- 
er of  my  despatches.  He  was  formerly  a  lieutenant  in  the 
artillery,  and  resigned  his  commission  on  account  of  being 
appointed  marshal  of  the  territory  of  Michigan.  Dur 
the  campaign  he  has  had  a  command  in  the  artillery;  and  I 
recommend  him  to  you  as  a  valuable  officer. 

He  is  particularly 'acquainted  with  the  state  of  things  pre- 
vious and  at  the  time  when  the  capitulation  took  place.  He 
will  be  able  to  give  you  correct  information  on  any  points 
about  which  you  may  think  proper  to  enqurie.  I  am,  very 
respectfully,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  HULL. 

If  on.  W.  Eustis,  Secretary  of  the  Department  of  War. 

Fort  George,  'August  23,  IS  12. 

Sir,  enclosed  are  the  articles  of  capitulation,  by  which 
the  fort  of  Detroit  has  been  surrendered  to  major-general 
Brock,  commanding  his  Britannic  majesty's  forces  in  Upper 
Canada,  and  by  which  the  troops  have  become  prisoners  of 
ivar.  My  situation  at  present  forbids  me  from  detailing  the 
particular  causes  which  have  led  to  this  unfortunate  event.  I 
will,  however,  generally  observe,  that  after  the  surrender  of 
Michillimackinac,  almost  every  tribe  and  nation  of  Indians, 

cepting  a  part  of  the  Miamies  and  Delawares,  north  from 
oncl  Lake  Superior,  west  from  beyond  the   Mississippi, 

.ith  from  the  Ohio  and  Wabash,  and  east  from  every  part 
of  Upper  Canada,  and  from  all  the  intermediate  country, 
joined  in  open  hostility,  under  the  British  standard,  against 
the  army  I  commanded,  contrary  to  the  most  solemn  assur- 
ances of  a  large  portion  of  them  to  remain  neutral ;  even  the 
Ottawa  chiefs  from  Arbecrotch,  who  formed  the  deleg: 
to  Washington  the  last  summer,  in  whose  friendship  I  know 

•L  had  great  confidence,  are  among  the  hostile-tribes,  and 
eral  of  them  distinguished  leaders.  Among  the  vast 
nber  of  chiefs  who  led  the  hostile  bands,  Tecumseh,  Mar- 
>ot,  Logan,  Walk-in-the-water,  Split  Log,  &c.  are  considered 
principals.  This  numerous  assemblage  of  savages,  un- 
the  entire  influence  and  direction  of  the  British  comman- 
enabled  him  totally  to  obstruct  the  only  communication 
had  with  my  country.  This  communication  had 
•ened  from  the  settlements  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  200 
es  through  a  wilderness,  by  the  fatigues  of  the  army 
ich  I  marched  to  the  frontier  on  the  river 


42] 


HISTORICAL  REGISTE3 


body  of  the  lalce  being  commanded  by  the  British  armed 
ships,  and  the  shores  and  rivers  by  gun  boats,  the  army  was 
totally  deprived  of  all  communication  by  water.  On  thK 
tensive  road  it  depended  for  transportation  of  provisions, 
military  stores,  medicine,  clothing,  and  every  other  supply, 
on  pack  horses — nil  its  operations  were  successful  until  its 
arrival  at  Detroit,  and  in  a  few  days  it  passed  into  the  ene- 
my's country,  and  all  opposition  seemed  to  fall  before  it. 
One  month  it  remained  in  possession  of  this  country,  and 
was  fed  from  its  resources.  In  different  directions,  detach- 
ments penetrated  sixty  miles  in  the  settled  part  of  the  pro- 
vince, and  the  inhabitants  seemed  satisfied  with  the  change 
of  situation,  which  appeared  to  be  taking  place — the  militia 
from  Amherstburg  were  daily  deserting,  and  the  whole  coun- 
try then  under  the  controul  of  the  army  was  asking  for 
protection.  The  Indians  generally,  in  the  first  instance,  ap- 
peared to  be  neutralized,  and  determined  to  take  no  part  in 
the  contest.  The  fort  of  Amherstburg  was  eighteen  miles 
below  my  encampment.  Not  a  single  cannon  or  mortar  was 
on  wheels  suitable  to  carry  before  that  place.  I  consulted 
my  officers,  whether  it  was  expedient  to  make  an  attempt  on 
it  with  the  bayonet  alone,  without  cannon  to  make  a  break 
in  the  first  instance.  The  council  I  called  was  of  the  opi- 
nion it  was  not. — The  greatest  industry  was  exerted  in  making 
preparation,  and  it  was  not  until  the  7th  of  August  that  two 
~4  pounders  and  three  howitzers  were  prepared.  It  was 
then  mv  intention  to  have  proceeded  on  the  enterprize.  While 
the  operations  of  the  army  were  delay*  d  by  these  prepara- 
tions, the  clouds  of  adversity  had  been  for  some  time  and 
seemed  still  thickly  to  be  gathering  around  me.  The  su,rren - 

of  MichilHmackinac  opened  the  northern  hive  of  Indi- 
ans, and  tl:  in  every  direction. 
Reinforcements  from  Niagara  had  arrived  at  Amherstl 

er  ihe  command  of  colonel  Proctor.     The  desertion  of 
the  militia  ceased       Besides  the  reinforcements  that  came  by 
water,   I  received  information  of  a  very   considerable  i 
under  tiu-  comm  Chambers,   on  the  river  Lc 

Trench,  with  four  fi>.  ,  and  collecting  the  militia  on 

his  rent,.  ':'.ed   for   Amherstburg;   and   in  ad- 

diron  to  this  combination   and  ">'   to 

all  my  c-  ippawas,  Qttawas,  Pot- 

whom  I  had  the- 
,  (1  over  to   Amherst- 
There 
being  now  a  vast  num 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

were  sent  to  the  river  Huron,  Brownstown,  and  Maguago  to 
intercept  my  communication.  To  open  this  communication, 
I  detached  major  Vanhorn-  of  the  Ohio  volunteers  with  two 
hundred  men  to  proceed  as  far  as  the  river  Raisin,  under  an 
expectation  he  would  meet  captain  Brush  with  one  hundred 
andt  fifty  men,  volunteers  from  the  state  of  Ohio,  and  a  quan- 
tity of  provision  for  the  armv.  An  ambuscade  was  formed 
at  Brownstown,  and  major  Vanhorn's  detachment  defeated 
and  returned  to  camp  without  effecting  the  object  of  the  ex- 
pedition. 

In  my  letter  of  the  fth  inst.  you  have  the  particulars  of 
that  transaction  with  a  return  of  the  killed  and  wounded. 
Under  this  sudden  and  unexpected  change  of  things,  and 
having  received  an  express  from  general  Hall,  commanding 
opposite  the  British  shore  on  the  Niagara  river,  by  which  it 
appeared  that  there  was  no  prospect  of  any  co-operation  from 
that  quarter,  and  the  two  senior  officers  of  the  artillery  hav- 
ing stated  to  me  an  opinion  that  it  would  be  extremely  diffi- 
cult, if  not  impossible,  to  pass  the  Turkey  river  and  river 
Aux  Canards  with  the  24  pounders,  and  that  they  could  not 
be  transported  by  water,  as  the  Q  i-^en  Charlotte,  which,  car- 
ried eighteen  24  pounders,  lav  in  the  riv>jr  Detroit  above  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Aux  Canards;  and  as  it  appeared  indis- 
pensibly  necessan-  to  open  the  communication  to  the  river 
Raisin  and  the  Miami,  I  found  myself  compelled  to  suspend 
the  operation  against  Amherstburg,  and  concentrate  the  main 
force  of  the  army  at  Detroit.  Fully  intending,  at  that  time, 
after  the  communication  was  opened,  to  re-cross  the  river, 
and  pursue  th'_-  object  at  Amherstburg,  and  strongly  desirous 
of  continuing  protection  to  a  very  large  number  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Upper  Canada,  who  had  voluntarily  accepted  it  un- 
der my  proclamation,  1  established  a  fortress  on  the  banks  of 
the  river,  a  little  below  Detroit,  calculated  for  a  garrison  of 
three  hundred  men.  On  the  evening  of  the  7th,  and  morn- 
ing of  the  8 ill  inst.  the  army,  excepting  the  garrison  of  250 
infantry,  and  a  corps  of  artillerists,  all  under  the  command 
of  major  Denny  of  the  Ohio  volunteers,  re-crossed  the  river, 
and  encamped  at  Detroit.  In  pursuance  of  the  object  of 
opening  the  communication,  on  which  I  considei-ed  the  ex- 
istence of  the  armv  deivnduig,  a  dec  ichm  -nt  of  six  hundred 
men,  under  the  command  oi'  lieutenant-colonel  Miller,  was 
immediately  ordered.  For  a  particular  account  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  this  detachment,  and  the  m,mora'>le  battle  which 

is  fought  at  Maguago,  which  reflects  the  highest  honour 
071  the  American  arms,  I  refer  you  to  my  letter  of  the  loth 


HISTORIC^ 

August  iust.  a  duplicate  of  w  tiarked   G- 

Nothing  however  but  honour  was  acquired   by  this  victory » 
and  it  is  a  painful  consideration,  that  the  blood  of 
five  gallant  men  could   only  open  the  communication,  ;-. 
as   the  points    of  their  bayonets  .  '.     The  i 

care  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  a  very  severe  storm  of 
rain,  rendered  their  return  to  camp  indispensably  necessary 
for  their  own  comfort.  Captain  Brush,  with  hi's  small  de- 
tachment and  the  provisions,  being  still  at  the  river  Raisin, 
and  in  a  situation  to  be  destroyed  by  the  savages,  on  the  13th 
mst.  in  the  evening,  I  permitted  cols,  M' Arthur  and  Cass  to 
select  from  their  regiment  four  hundred  of  their  most  effec- 
tive men,  and  proceed  an  upper  route  through  the  woods, 
which  I  had  sent  an  express  to  captain  Brush  to  take,  and 
had  directed  the  militia  of  the  river  Raisin  to  accompanv 
nim  as  a  reinforcement.  The  force  of  the  enemy  continualfv 
increasing,  and  the  necessity  of  opening  the  communication, 
and  acting  on  the  defensive,  becomi;  apparent,  I 

had,  previous  to  detaching  cols.  M'Arthur  and  Cass  on  the 
Ith  mst.  evacuated  and  destroyed  the  fort  on   the  opposite 
bank.     On  the  13th  in  the  evening,  general  Brock  arrived  at 
Amherstburg  about  the  hour  colonels   M'Arthur  and  C 
marched,  ol  which  at  that  time  I  had  received  no  informa- 
tion.    On  the  15th  I  received  a  summons  from  him  to  sur- 
render fort  Detroit,  of  which  the  paper  marked  A.  is  a  copy. 
My  answer  is  marked  B.     At  this  time  I  had  received 
information  from  cols.  M'Arthur  and  Cass.    An  express  was 
immediately  sent,  strongly  escorted,  with  orders  for  them  to 
return.     On  the  l6ih,  as  soon  as  general  Brock  received 
liters,  his  batteries  opened  upon  the  town  and  fort,  and  c< 
tmued  until  evening.     In  the  evening  all  the  British  ships 
war  cam  as  Sandwich,  three  m 

)etroit.      At  day  light  on  the  leih  (at  which  tin-, 
had  received  no  information  from  cols.  M'Arthur  and  C; 


received    information,    that    the   British  army    and   Inci 
were  lai.  'Ow   tht  Spring  wells,  under' cover  of  t 

ships  of  war.   •  At  this  time  Tcctive  force  at  my 

lisposal  at  Detroit  did  not  exceed  eight  hundred  men.     Be- 
ing new  troops,  and  unaccustomed  to  a  camp  life;   ha\ 
performed  a  laborious  march;  having  been  engaged  in  a  num- 
bc-  of  batiks  and  skirmishes,  in  which  many  had  fallen,  and 
-1  wounds,    in   addition  to  which  a  large 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

number  being  sick,  and  unprovided  with  medicine,  and  the 
comforts  necessary  for  their  situation,  are  the  general  causes 
by  which  the  strength  of  the  army  was  thus  reduced.  The 
fort  at  this  time  was  filled  with  women,  children,  and  the  old 
and  decrepic!  people  of  the  town  and  country;  they  were 
unsafe  in  the  town,  and  it  was  entirely  open  and  exposed  to 
the  enemy's  batteries.  Back  of  the  fort,  above  or  belo-v  it, 
there  was  no  safety  for  them  on  account  of  the  Indians.  In 
the  first  instance,  the  enemy's  fire  AVUS  principally  i 
against  our  batteries;  towards  the  close,  it  was  directed 
against  the  fort  alone,  and  almost  every  shot  and  shell  had 
their  effect. 

It  now  became  necessary  either  to  fight  the  enemy  in  the 
field;  collect  the  whole  force  in  the  fort;  or  propose  terms  of 
capitulation.  I  could  not  have  carried  into  the  field  more 
than  six  hundred  men,  and  left  any  adequate  force  in  the  fort. 
There  Avere  landed  at  that  time  of  the  enemy  a  regular  force 
of  much  more  than  that  number  of  Indians.  Consiclc: 
this. great  inequality  of  force,  I  did  not  think  it  expedient  to 
adopt  the  first  measure.  The  second  must  have  been  attend- 
ed with  great  sacrifice  of  blood,  and  no  possible  advantage, 
because  the  contest  could  not  have  been  sustained  more  i. 
a  day  for  the  Avant  of  powder,  and  but  a  very  few  days  for 
the  Avant  of  provisions.  In  addition  to  this,  colonels  M' Ar- 
thur and  Cass  would  have  been  in  a  most  hazardous  situation. 
I  feared  nothing  but  the  last  alternative.  I  have  dared  to 
adopt  it.  I  well  know  the  high  responsibility  of  the  measure, 
and  I  take  the  Avhole  of  it  on  myself.  It  was  dictated  by  a 
sense  of  duty,  and  full  conviction  of  its  expediency.  The 
bands  of  savages  Avhich  had  then  joined  the  British  force 
were  numerous  beyond  any  former  example.  Their  num- 
bers have  since  increased,  and  the  history  of  the  barbarians 
of  the  north  of  Europe  does  not  furnish  examples  of  more 
greedy  violence  than  these  savages  have  exhibited.  A  large 
portion  of  the  brave  and  gallant  officers  and  men  I  com- 
manded Avould  cheerfully  have  contested  until  the  last  car- 
tridge had  been  expended,  and  the  bayonets  Avorn  to  the 
sockets.  I  could  not  consent  to  the  useless  sacrifice  of  such 
brave  men,  AV  -en  I  knew  it  Avas  impossible  for  me  to  sus- 
tain my  situation.  It  Avas  impossible  in  the  nature  of  things 
that  an  army  could  have  been  furnished  Avith  the  necessary 
supplies  of  provisions,  military  stores,  clothing,  and  comforts 
for  the  sick,  on  pack  horses,  through  a  Avilderness  of  tAvo 
hundred  miles,  filled  with  hostile  savages,  It  Avas  impossi- 
ble, sir,  that  this  little  army,  Avorn  clown  by  fatigue,  by  si 


46]  HISTORICAL  KEGISTKK. 

ness,  by  wounds,  and  deaths,  could  have  supported  itself  not 
only  against  the  collected  force  of  all  the  northern  nations  of 
Indians;  hut  against  the  united  strength  of  Upper  Canada" 
whose  population  consists  of  more  than  twenty  times  the 
number  confined  in  the  territory  of  Michigan,  aided  by  the 
principal  part  of  the  regular  forces  of  the  province,  and  the 
wealth  and  influence  of  the  North-west  and  other  trading 
establishments  among  the  Indians,  which  have  in  their  em- 
doyment  and  under  their  entire  controul  more  than  two 
thousand  white  men.  Before  I  close  this  despatch  it  is  a 

M'-I\rVei?-yMeSpe^ble  assoclates  ^  command,  colonels 
Arthur,  tmchey.  Cass,  and  lieutenant-colonel  Miller    to 
express  my  obligations  to  them  for  the  prompt  and  iudicious 
manner   they  have   performed    their   respective    duties.     If 
ght  has  taken  place  during  the  campaign,  which  is  honour- 
able to  the  arrav,   these  officers  are  entitled  to  a  large  share 
it.       f  the  last  act  should  be  disapproved,  no  part  of  the 
censure  bdongs  to  them.      I  have  likewise  to  express  my  ob! 
ligation  to  general  Taylor,   who  has  performed  the  duty  of 
quarter-master-general,  for  his  great  exertions  in  procuring 
every  thing  in  his  department  which  it  was  possible  to  fur- 
•sh  for  the    convenience  of  the  army  ;  likewise  to   brigade 
major  Jessup,  for  the  correct  and  punctual  manner  in  which 
he  has  discharged  his  duty;    and  to  the  army  generally  for 
their  exertion,  and  the  zeal  they  have  manifestecffor  th-  pub 
he  interest.     The  death  of  Dr.  Foster,  soon  after  he  arrived 
Detroit,  was  a  severe  misfortune  to  the  army;  it  was  in- 
-eased  by  the  capture  of  the  Chachaga  packet,  by  which  the 
medicine  and   hospital  stores  were  lost.     He  was  commen- 
mg  tne   best  arrangements  in  the  department  of  which  h- 
was  the  principal,  with  the  very  small  means  he  posses, 
I  was  likewise  deprived  of  the  necessary  services  of  captain 
Patndge  by  sickness,  the  only  officer  of  the  corps  of  engi- 
neers attached  to  the   army.     All  the  officers  and  men  hit- 
e  to  their    respective  homes,  excepting  the  4th  United 
States'  regiment,  and  a  small  part  of  the  first,  and  cantain 
Dyson  s  company  of  artillery.  Captain  Dyson's  company  was 
left  at  Amherstburg,  and  the  others  are  with  me  prisoners- 
they  amount  to  about  three  hundred  and  forty.     I  have  onlv 
to  solicit  an  investigation  of  my  conduct  as  early  as  mv  situa- 
tion and  the  state  of  things    will    admit;    and  to    add  the 
further  request,  that  the  government  will  not  be  unmindful 
of  my  associates  in  captivity,  and  of  the  families  of  those 
brave  men  who  have  fallen  in  the  contest 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  |4r 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  most  obe- 
dient servant,  W.  HULL,  Brig.  Gen. 
Hon.  W.  Eustis,  Secretary  of  the  Department  of  War. 

Copies  of  letters  from  Brigadier-General  Hull  to  the  Department 
of  War,  accompanying  the  preceding'  Dispatch. 

Sandwich,   August  7,  1812. 

Sir  on  the  4th  inst.  major  Van  Horn,  of  colonel  Find- 
ley's  regiment  of  Ohio  volunteers,  was  detached  from  this 
army,  with  the  command  of  200  men,  principally  riflemen, 
to  proceed  to  the  river  Raisin,  and  further,  if  necessary, 
to  meet  and  reinforce  capt.  Brush,  of  the  state  of  Ohio, 
commanding  a  company  of  volunteers,  and  escorting  provi- 
sions for  this  army.  At  Brownstown,  a  large  body  of  Indi- 
ans had  formed  an  ambuscade,  and  the  major's  detachment 
received  a  heavy  fire,  at  the  distance  of  fifty  yards  from  the 
enemy.  The  whole  detachment  retreated  in  disorder.  Ma- 
jor Vanhorn  made  every  exertion  to  form,  and  prevent  the 
retreat,  that  was  possible  for  a  brave  and  gallant  officer,  but 
without  success.  By  the  return  of  killed  and  wounded,  it 
will  be  perceived,  that  the  loss  of  officers  was  uncommonly 
great.  The  efforts  to  rally  their  companies  was  the  occasion 
of  it.  I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  HULL. 

Hon.  W.  Eustis,  Secretary  of  War. 

Report  of  killed  in  Major  Vanhorrfs  defeat. 

Captains  Gilchrist,  Ullery,  M'Callough  of  the  spies,  Bcerst- 
ler  severely  wounded,  and  not  expected  to  recover  (since 
dead);  lieutenant  Pentz ;  ensigns  Roby  and  Allison;  1O 
privates.  Total  17. 

Number  of  wounded,  as  yet  unknown. 

Detroit,  August  13,  1812. 

Sir,  the  main  body  of  the  army  having  re-crossed  the 
river  at  Detroit,  on  the  night  and  morning  of  the  8th  inst., 
six  hundred  men  were  immediately  detached  under  the  com- 
mand of  lieutenant-colonel  Miller,  to  open  the  communica- 
tion to  the  river  Raisin,  and  protect  the  provisions,  which 
were  under  the  escort  of  captain  Brush.  This  detachment 
consisted  of  the  4th  United  States'  regiment  and  two  small 
detachments  under  the  command  of  lieutenant  Stansburyand 
ensign  M'Labe,  of  the  1st  regiment;  detachments  from  the 
Ohio  and  Michigan  volunteers,  a  corps  of  artillerists,  with 
•••ix  pounder  and  an  howitzer.. 


H1STOKICAL  ViKR. 

lieutenant  Eastman,  and  a  part  of  captains  Smith  and  Si. 
cavalry,  commanded  by  captain  Sloan  of  the  Ohio  volunteers 
Lieutenant-colonel  Miller  marched  from  Detroit  on  the  af* 

ternoon  of  the  8th  instant,  and  on  the  9th,  about  4  o'cloct 
u  rr.     ,Vao  guard'  comn™nil<-d  by  captain  Smiling  of  the 
4th  United  States'  regiment,   was  fired  on  bv  an  extensive 
British  troops  and  Indians  at  the  lower  part  of  Ma 
go  about  fourteen   miles  from  Detroit.     At  this  time  the 
mam  body  was  marching  in  two  columns,  and  captain  Snel- 
Img  maintained  his  position  in  a  most  gallant  manner,  under 
a  very  heavy  fire,  until  the  line  was  formed  and  advanced  to 
the  ground  he  occupied,  when  the  whole,  excepting  the  rear 
guard,  was  brought  into  action.     The  enemy  were  formed 
>enmcl  a  temporary  breast  work  of  logs,  the  Indians  extend- 
ing m  a  thick  wood  on  their  left.     Lieutenant-colonel  Miller 
ordered  his  whole  line  to  advance,  and  when  within  a  «mall 
distance  of  the  enemy  made  a  general   discharge,  and  pro- 
ceeded with  charged  bayonets,  when  the'whole  British  line 
and  Indians  commenced  a  retreat.     Thev  were  pursued  in  a 
most  vigorous  manner  about  two  miles,  'and  the  pursuit  dis- 
continued only  on  account  of  the  fatigue  of  the  troops,  the  ap- 
proach of  evening,  and  the  necessity  of  returning  to  take 
care  of  the  wounded.     The  judicious  arrangements  made  bv 
heutenant-colonel  Miller,  and  the  gallant  manner  in  which 
they  were  executed,  justly  entitled  him  to  the  highest  honour 
*rom  the  moment  the  line  commenced  the  fire,  it  continually 
moved  on    and  the  enemy  maintained  their  position    until 
forced  at  the  point  of  the  bavonet.      The  Indians  on  the  left 
under  the  command  of.Tecumseh,   fought   with   great  ob' 
stmacy,  but  were  continually  forced  and  compelled  to  retreat 
ine  victory  was  complete  in  every  part  of  the  line,   and  the 
access   would  have   been    more  "brilliant   had   the   cavalrV 
charged  the  enemy  on  the  retreat,  when  a   most  favourable- 
opportunity  presented.      Although  orders  were  given  for  the 
purpose,   unfortunately   they   were    not  executed.       Majors 
\  anhorn  and  Morrison,  of  the  Ohio  volunteers,  were  asso- 
ciated with  lieutenant  colonel  Miller,  as  field  officers  in  this 
command,  and  were  highly  distinguished  by  their  exert  ons 
in  forming  the  line,  and  the  firm  and  intrepid  manner  tr 
ied  their  respective  commands  to  action. 

Captain  Baker  of  the  1st  United  States'  regiment,  captain 
Brevort  of  the  second,  and  captain  Hull  of  the  13th,  my  aid- 
de-camp  and  lieutenant  Whistler  of  the  1st,  requested  per- 
™i  ,V*°J°in  the  dctaci»«™t  as  volunteers.  Lieutenant 

•and  lieu- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [49 

tenant  \V  histler,  and  captains  Brevort  and  Hull,  at  his  request, 
attf.  •;•-:!.--•  J  his  person  and  aided  him  in  the  general  arrange- 
ments. Lieutenant-colonel  Miller  has  mentioned  the  con- 
duct of  these  officers  in  terms  of  high  approbation.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  captains  who  have  been  nam  d,  lietitenant-cr.Lc- 
nel  Miller  has  mentioned  capts.  Burton  and  Fuller  of  the  4th 
regiment,  captains  Saunders  and  Brown  of  the  Ohio  volun- 
teers, and  captain  Delandre  of  the  Michigan  volunteers,  who 
were  attached  to  his  command,  and  distinguished  by  their 
valour.  It  is  impossible  for  me  in  this  communication  to  do 
justice  to  the  officers  and  soldiers,  who  gained  the  victory 
which  I  have  described.  They  have  acquired  high  honour 
to  themselves,  and  are  justly  entitled  to  the  gratitude  of 
their  country. 

Major  Muir  of  the  41st  regiment  commanded  the  British 
in  this  action.  The  regulars  and  volunteers  consisted  of 
about  four  hundred,  and  a  large  number  of  Indians.  Major 
Muir  and  two  subalterns  were  wounded,  one  of  them  since 
dead.  About  forty  Indians  were  found  dead  on  the  field, 
and  Tecumseh  their  leader  was  slightly  wounded.  The  num- 
ber of  wounded  Indians  who  escaped  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained. Four  of  major  MmVs  detachment  have  been  made 
prisoners,  and  fifteen  of  the  41st  regiment  killed  and  wounded. 
The  militia  and  volunteers  attached  to  his  command  were  in 
the  severest  part  of  the  action,  and  their  loss  must  have  been 
at — it  has  not  yet  been  ascertained.  I  have  the  honour 
to  be,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

W.  HULL, 
Brig.  Gen.  commanding  N.  W.  Army. 

Hon.  W.   Eustis,  Secrcian;  ofllrar. 


'etur?i  of  killed  and  wounded  in  the  action  fought  near 

•-aago,  August  9,  ) 
4th  United  States'  regiment — 10  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers and  privates  killed,  and  forty-five  wounded;  captain 
Baker  of  the  1st  regiment  of  infantry;  lieutenant  Larabee 
of  the  4th ;  lieutenant  Peters  of  the  4th ;  ensign  Whistler 
of  the  17th,  doing  duty  in  the  4th  ;  lieutenant  Silly,  and  an 
ensign,  whose  name  has  not  been  returned  to  me,  were 
wounded. 

In  the  Ohio  and  Michigan  volunteers,  S  were  killed  and 
13  wounded. 

W.  HULL. 

VOl,,  T.    7»\RT  TT.  TH1 


50] 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 
[A.] 


Heed- Quarters,  Sandwich,  August  15,  1812. 

Sir,  the  force  at  my  disposal  authorises  me  to  n  quire  ot 
you  the  immt  diate  surrender  of  fort  Detroit.  It  is  far  from 
my  intention  to  join  in  a  war  of  extermination,  but  you  must 
be  aware,  that  the  numerous  body  of  Indians  who  have  at- 
tach- d  themselves  to  my  troops,  will  he  bevond  controul  th< 
moment  the  contest  commences.  You  will  find  me  disposed 
to  enter  into  such  conditions  as  will  satisfy  the  most  scrupu- 
lous sense  of  honour.  Lieut.-colonel  M'Donnell  and  major 
Glegg  are  fully  authorised  to  conclude  any  arrangement  that 
may  lead  to  prevent  the  unnecessary  effusion  of  blood, 
have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  ISAAC  BROCK,  Maj.  Gen. 

His  Excellency  Brigadier-General  Hull, 
commanding  at  Fort  Detroit. 

[B] 

Head-§>tiarters*  Detroit,  August  15,  1812. 

Sir,  I  have  received  your  letter  of  this  date.  1  have  no 
other  reply  to  make,  than  to  inform  you,  that  I  am  prepared 
to  meet  any  force  which  may  be  at  your  disposal,  and  any 
consequences  which  may  result  from  any  exertion  of  it  you 
may  think  proper  to  make. 

I  avail  myself  of  ihis  opportunity  to  inform  you  that  the 
flag  of  truce  under  the  direction  of  captain  Brown,  proceed- 
ed contrary  to  the  orders,  and  without  the  knowledge  of  col. 
Cass,  who  commanded  the  troops  which  attacked  your  pickets 
near  the  river  Canard  bridge. 

I  likewise  take  this  opportunity  to  inform  you  thatCowie's 
house  was  set  on  fire  contrary  to  my  orders,  and  it  did  not 
take  place-  till  after  the  evacuation  of  the  fort.  From  the 
best  information  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  on  the  subject,  it 
was  set  on  lire  by  some  of  the  inhabitants  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river.  I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  excellency's 
most  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  W.  HULL,  Brig.  Gen. 

C  :iztheN.  .;/  of  the  'U.  S. 

His  Excellency  Major-General  Brock^  commanding  his 
Britannic  Majesty* s  Forces,  Sandwich,  Upper  Canada. 

Camp  at  Detroit,  ISth  August,  1812. 

Capitulation  for  the  surrender  of  fort  Detroit,  entered  into 
between  major-general  Brock,  commanding  his  Britannic 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS,  [51 

majesty's  forces  on  the  one  part,  and  brigndier-general  Hull, 
commanding  the  north-western  army  of  tht-  United  States  on 
the  otner: 

Art  I.  Fort  Detroit,  with  all  the  troops,  regulars  as  well 
as  militia,  will  be  immediately  surrendered  to  the  British 
forces,  under  the  command  of  major-general  Brock,  and  will 
be  considered  prisoners  of  war;  with  the  exception  of  such 
of  the  militia  of  the  Michigan  territory  who  have  not  joined 
the  army. 

II.  All  public  stores,  arms,  and  all  public  documents,  in- 
cluding every  thing  else  of  a  public  nature,  will  be  immedi- 
ately given  up. 

III.  Private  persons  and  property  of  every  description  will 
be  respected. 

IV.  His  excellency  brigadier-general  Hull  having  express- 
ed a  desire  that  a  detachment  from  the  state  of  Ohio,   on  its 
way  to  join  his  army,  as  well  as  one  sent  from  fort   Detroit, 
under  the  command  of  col.  M'Arthur,  shall  be  included  in 
the  above   capitulation,  it  is    accordingly  agreed    to ;  it   is, 
however,  to  be  understood,  that  such  part  of  the  Ohio  mili- 
tia as  have  not  joined  the  army,  will  be  permitted  to  return 
to  their  homes,  on  condition  that  thev  will  not  serve  during 
the  war.     Their  arms,  however,  will  be  delivered  up  if  be- 
longing to  the  public. 

V.  The  garrison  will  march  out  at  the  hour  of  12  o'clock 
this  day,  and  the  British  forces  will  take  immediate  posses- 
sion of  the  fort. 

(Signed)  J.  M.  M'DONELL,  Lt.  Col      . 

Militia  P.  A.  D   C. 
J.  B.  GLEGG,  Major,  A.  D,  C. 
J.  MILLER,  Lt.  Col.  5th  U.  S.  Infantry. 
E.  BRUSH,  Col.  1st  Regt.  Michigan  Ml. 
Approved,  W.  HULL,  Brig.  Gen.  commanding  the 

N.  W,  Amu*. 
Approved,  ISAAC  BROCK,  Major-General. 

An  Article  supplemental  to  the  Articles  of  Capitulation  conclu- 

.    ded  at  Detroit,   16th  August. 

It  is  agreed  that  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Ohio  mi- 
litia and  volunteers  shall  be  permitted  to  proceed  to  their  re- 
spective homes  on  this  condition,  that  they  are  not  to  serve 
during  the  present  war  unless  they  are  exchanged. 

(Signed)     .  "  W.  HULL,  Brig.  Gen. 

Commanding  N.  W.  Army  U.  S* 
ISAAC  BROCK,  Maj.Gen. 


42]  HISTORICAL  JREC 

An  Article  in  addition  to  the  Supplemental 

tulatwn,  concluded  at  Detroit, 

It  is  further  agreed  that  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  th 
chigan  militia  and  volunteers,  under   the  command  of  maj. 
Wiiherell,    shall    be  placed  on   the  same    principles  as  the 
Ohio  volunteers  and  militu.  are  placed  by  the  supplemental 
article  of  the  16th  inst. 

(Signed)  W.  HULL,  Brig,  Gen. 

Commanding  the  N.  W.  Army  U.  S> 
ISAAC  BliOCK,  Maj.' Gen. 

Prom  the  London  Gazette  Extraordinary. 

Dozvning-Street,  Oct.  6th,  .1812. 

Captain  Coore,  aid-de-camp,  to  lieutenant-general  sir 
George  Prevost,  governor  in  chief  of  his  majesty's  provinces 
in  North  America,  arrived  this  morning  with  despatches 
from  the  lieutenant-general,  addressed  to  earl  Bathurst,  one 
of  his  majesty's  principal  secretaries  of  state,  of  which  the 
following  is  an  extract  and  a  copy. 
/ 

Montreal,  Aug.  26. 

My  Lord,  I  feel  the  greatest  satisfaction,  in  transmitting 
to  your  lordship  a  letter  which  I  have  this  day  received  by 
express  from  major-general  Brock,  announcing  to  me  the 
surrender  of  fort  Detroit,  on  the  16th  inst.  by  brigadier- 
general  Hull  with  the  army  under  his  command,  exceeding 
two  thousand  five  hundred  men,  together  with  twenty-five 
pieces  of  ordnance. 

In  my  dcspatces  of  the  17th  and  24th  instant,  I  had  the 
honour  of  detailing  to  your  lordship  the  operations  which  had 
taken  place  in  Upper  Canada,  in  consequence  of  the  inva- 
sion of  that  province  by  the  army  of  the  United  States.  Bri- 
gadier-general Hull,  having  crossed  the  Detroit  river  on  the 
12th^  of  last  month,  with  two  thousand  three  hundred  men, 
consisting  of  regular  cavalry  and  i;  ^bring- 

ing with  him  several  field  pic,  • -riven  in  the 

militia    towards  Amherstburg,  first  advanced  to  Sanclv, 
and  afterwa;  .-chcd  Amherstburg,  with  a  part  of  his 

army  to  the  river  Aux  Car  lies  from  the  fort, 

where  he  was  foiled  in  three  attempts  to  cross  that  river,  and 
suffered  a  considerable  loss.  The  garrison  of  Amherstburg 
consisted  at  that  time  of  a  subaltern's  detachment  of  the  royal 
artillery,  commanded  by  lieutenant  Trois-ghton  ;  cf  a  detach- 
ment of  three  hundred  men  of  the  forty-first  regiment,  under 
the  command  of  captain  i-  -i  of  about  as  many  of  the 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

inilitia ;  the  whole  under  the  command  of  lieutenant-colonel 
St.  George,  inspecting  fit-Id  officer  of  militia  in   the  district. 

General  Brock,  relying  upon  the  strong  assurances  I  had 
given  him  of  a  reinforcement,  as  prompt  and  as  effectual  as 
the  circumstances  under  which  I  was  placed,  by  this  new 
war,  would  permit  me  to  send,  adopted  the  most  vigorous 
measures  for  the  safety  of  that  part  of  the  frontier  which  had 
been  attacked.  In  these  measures  he  was  most  opportunely 
aided  by  the  fortunate  surrender  of  fort  Michillimackinac, 
which  giving  spirit  and  confidence  to  the  Indian  tribts  in  its 
neighbourhood,  pan  of  whom  assisted  in  its  capture,  deter- 
mined them  to  advance,  upon  the  rear  and  flanks  of  the 
American  army,  as  soon  as  they  heard  that  it  hud  entered 
the  province. 

The  certainty  of  the  expected  reinforcements,  and  the 
weakness  of  the  enemy  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  had,  in  the 
mean  time,  induced  general  Brock  to  detach  from  the  garri- 
son of  fort  George,  fifty  in'en  of  the  forty-first  regiment 
under  captain  Chambers,  into  the  interior  of  the  coir. 
for  the  purpose  of  collecting  such  of  the  Indians  and  militia 
as  might  be  ready  to  join  him,  and  of  afterwards  advancing 
upon  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy.  Sixty  men  of  the  same 
regiment  were  also  detached  from  the  garrison  to  Amherst- 
•g,  and  forty  to  Long  Point,  t  the  militia  in  that 

iarter.  Having  made  these  dispositions,  and  having  pre- 
viously sent  ionvard  colonel  Proctor,  of  the  forty-first  n 
ment  to  Amherstburg — where  he  arrived  and  assumed  the 
command  on  the  26th  of  Ir.st  month — general  Brock  pro- 
ceeded himself  from  York  on  the  5ih  inst.  for  fort  St. 
George  and  Long  Point  on  lake  Erie,  which  last  place  he 
left  on  the  8th  following  for  Amherstburg,  with  forty  rank 

«d  file  of  the  forty-first  regiment,  and  two  hundred  and  six- 
militia  forces. 
Whilst  general   Brock  was  thus  hastening  his  preparations 
for  the  relief  of  Amherstbugc;,  the  prospects  of  thj  Ameri- 
can army  under  general  Hull  were  becoming  every  day  more 
unfavourable,  and  their  situation  more  critical.       The  intelli- 

3 ice    of  the    fall  of  Micbiilimackinac   had  reached  them, 
ich  they  knew  m<;  >•  tht-m  to  an  the  In- 

• 

ciians  in    one    quarter,  at  were 

threatened  in  another  by  the  force  approaching  under  capt. 
Chambers.  An  Indian  tribe  of  the  Wyandotfs,  whom  they 
had  in  vain  attempted  to  bribe,  aided  by  a  detachment  of  the 
41st  regiment  from  Amherstburg,  had  succeeded  in  cutting 
off  their  supplies  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  in- 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

tercepting  their  despatches,  which  described  in  very  strorij 
terms    their    apprehensions    and    despondency.      The    losse 
they  had  sustained  in  their  different  actions  upon  the  Canard 
river,  as  well  as  those  for  protecting  their  supplies,  together 
with  the  mode  of  warfare  pursued  bv  the  Indians,  had  greatly 
discouraged  and  dispirited  them,  and  had  convinced  general 
Hull  how  hopeless  any  attempt  would  be   to  storm  fort  Am- 
herstburg,  without  great  reinforcements  and  a  battering  train. 

It  was  under  these  circumstances,  at  this  critical  period, 
when  the  enemy  were  beginning  to  consult  their  security  by 
entrenching  themselves,  that  general  Brock  entered  Amherst- 
burg  with  a  reinforcement,  which  he  was  fortunately  enabled 
to  do  on  the  12th  inst.  without  the  smallest  molestation,  in 
consequence  of  our  decided  naval  superiority  on  the  lakes. 
To  his  active  and  intelligent  mind  the  advantages  which  his 
enemy's  situation  afforded  him  over  them,  even  with  his  very 
inferior  force,  become  immediately  apparent;  and  that  he 
has  not  failed  most  effectually  to  avail  himself  of  those  fa- 
vourable circumstances, your  lordship  will,  I  trust,  be  satisfied, 
from  the  letter  v/hich  I  have  the  honour  of  transmitting.- 

Having  thus  brought  to  your  lordship's  view,  the  different 
circumstances  which  have  led  to  the  successful  termination 
of  the  campaign  on  the  western  frontier  of  Upper  Canada, 
;ot  withhold   from  major-general   Brock  the  tribute  o 
applause  so  justly  due  to  him  for  his  distinguished  conduc 
on  this  occasion,  or  omit  to  recommend  him,   through  you 
lordship,  to  the  favourable  consideration  of  his  royal  highnes 
the  prince  regent,  for  the  great  ability   and  judgment  wit 
which  he  has  planned,  and  the  promptitude,  energy  and  forti 
tude  with  which  he  has  effected,  the  preservation  of  Uppe 
Canada,   with  the  sacrifice  of  so  little  British  blood  in  ac 
complishing  so  important  a  service. 

My  aid-de-camp,  captain  Coore,  will  have  the  honour  o 
delivering  to  your  lordship  this  despatch ;  and  as  he  is  wel 
qualified  to  give  your  lordship  information  respecting  the 
military  resources  of  this  .command,  I  shall  beg  leave  t 
refer  your  lordship  to  him  for  farther  particulars.  I  hav 
the  honour, 

(Signed)  GEORGE   PREVOST. 

Head-S^tartcrs,  Jhn.'rcal,  Sept.  1,  1812. 
Mr  Lord,  since  I  had  the  honour  of  transmitting  to  youi 
lordship  my  letter  of  the  26th  ult.  in  charge  of  my  aid-de- 
camp,  captain  Coore,  I  have  received  from  major-general 
Brock  a  despatch,  of  which  the  inclosed  is  a  copy,  containing 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

the  particulars  of  brigadier-general  Hull's  invasion  of  Upper 
Canada,  which  has  terminated  most  gloriously  to  his  majes- 
ty's arms,  in  that  officer's  defeat  and  surrender  as  a  prisoner 
of  war,  with  the  whole  of  the  North-western  urmv,  together 
with  the  fort  Detroit,  and  33  pieces  of  ordnance. 

I  forward  this  despatch  express,  in  the  expectation  of  its 
reaching  captain  Coore  previously  to  his  leaving  Can  ida, 
which,  with  the  colours  of  the  4th  United  States  regiment 
accompanying  it,  I  trust  that  officer  will  have  the  honour  of 
delivering  to  your  lordship.  I  have  the  honour  to  he,  &c. 

GEORGE  PREVOST. 
To  the  right  honourable  Earl  Eathurst. 

Head-Qiiarters,  Detroit,  August  Y. 

Sir,  I  have  had  the  honour  of  informing  your  excellency, 
that  the  enemy  effected  his  passage  across  the  Detroit  river 
on  the  12th  ult.  without  opposition,  and  that  after  establish- 
ing himself  at  Sandwich,  he  had  ravaged  the  country  as  far 
as  the  Moravia  town.  Some  skirmishes  occurred  between  the 
troops  under  lieutenant-colonel  St.  George  and  the  enemy 
upon  the  river  Aux  Canards,  which  uniformly  terminated  in 
his  being  repulsed  with  loss.  I  had  judged  it  proper  to  de- 
tach a  force  down  the  river  Thames,  capable  of  acting,  in  con- 
junction with  the  garrison  of  Amherstburg,  offensively ;  but 
captain  Chambers,  whom  I  had  appointed  to  direct  this  de- 
tachment, experienced  difficulties  that  frustrated  my  inten- 
tions. The  intelligence  received  from  that  quarter  admitting 
of  no  delay,  colonel  Proctor  was  directed  to  assume  the  com- 
mand, and  his  force  was  soon  after  increased  with  60  rank 
and  file  of  the  41  st  regiment. 

In  the  mean  time  the  most  strenuous  measures  were  adopt- 
ed to  counteract  the  machinations  of  the  evil-disposed ;  and 
I  soon  experienced  the  gratification  of  receiving  voluntary 
offers  of  service  from  that  portion  of  the  embodied  militia 
the  most  easily  collected.  In  the  attainment  of  this  import- 
ant point,  gentlemen  of  the  first  character  and  influence  shewed 
an  example  highly  creditable  to  them;  and  I  cannot  on  this 
occasion  avoid  mentioning  the  essential  assistance  I  derived 
from  John  M'Donnell,  Esq.  his  majesty's  attorney-general, 
who,  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  has  honoured  me  with 
his  services  as  my  provincial  aid-de-camp.  A  sufficiency  of 
boats  being  collected  at  Long  Point  for  the  conveyance  of 
300  men,  the  embarkation  took  place  on  the  8th  inst.  and  in 
5  days  arrived  in  safety  at  Amherstburg.  I  found  that  the 
judicious  arrangement  which  had  '  atelv 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

upon  the'  arrival  of  col.  Prortor,  bad  compelled  the  enemy 
to  retreat  and  take  shelter  under  the  guns  of  his  fort:  that 
officer  commenced  operations  bv  sending  strong  detachments 
a-Toss  the  river,  with  a  view  of  cutting  off  the  enemy's  com- 
munication with  his  res-  rve.  This  produced  two  smart  skir- 
mishes on  the  5th  and  9'hinst.  in  hoth  of  which" the  cr.emv's 
loss  "was  verv  considerable,  whilst  ours  amounted  to  3  killed 
and  13  wounded;  amongst  the  latter  I  have  particularly  to 
regret  capt.  Muir  and  lieut  Sutherland,  of  the  41st  regiment  ; 
the  former,  an  officer  of  great  experience,  and  both  ardent  in 
his  majesty's  service.  Batteries  had  likewise  been  com- 
menced opposite  fort  Detroit,  for  one  18  pounder,  two  12's, 
and  two  5i  half  inch  mortars ;  all  of  which  opened  on 
the  evening  of  the  15th  (having  previously  summoned  bri- 
gadier-general Hull  to  surrender ;)  and  although  opposed  by 
a  well-directed  fire  from  seven  24  pounders,  such  was  their 
construction,  under  the  able  directions  of  captain  Dixon  of 
die  royal  engineers,  that  no  injury  was  sustained  from  its 
effect. 

The  force  at  mv  disposal  being  collected  in  the  course  of 
the  5th,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Sandwich,  the  embarkation 
took  place  a  little  after  day-light  on  the  following  morning, 
and  by  the  able  arrangements  of  lieut.  Dewar  of  the  quarter- 
master-general's department,  the  whole  was  in  .a  short  time 
landed  without  the  smallest  confusion,  at  Spring  Well,  a  good 
position,  3  miles  w.est  of  Detroit.  The  Indians  who  had  in 
the  mean  tirn  1  their  landing  2  miles  below,  mov^d 

forwards  and  occupied  the  woods,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  on 
our  left. 

The  force  which  I  instantly  directed  to  march  against  the 
enemy  consisted  of  30  royal  artillerv,  250  41  st  regiment,  5O 
royal  Newfoundland  regiment,  400  militia,  and  about  600 
Indians,  to  which  were  attached  3  six  pounders,  and  2  three 
•pounders.  The  services  of  lieut  Troughton,  commanding 
the  royal  artillery,  an  active  and  intelligent  officer,  being  re- 
quired in  the  field,  the  direction  of  the  batteries  was  intrust- 
ed to  captain  Hall,  of  the  marine  department ;  and  I  cannot 
withhold  my  entire  approbation  of  their  conduct  on  that  oc- 
casion. 

I  crossed  the  river  with  an  intention  of  waiting  in  a  strong 
position  the  effect  of  our  force  upon  the  enemy's  camp,  and 
in  the  hope  of  compelling  him  to  meet  us  in  the  fu  Id ;  but 
receiving  information  upon  landing  that  colonel  M' Arthur, 
an  officer  of  high  reputation,  had  left  the  garrison  three  days 
before  wM.h  ;  >oo  men.  and  hearing  ^o^n  ;>: 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [# 

that  his  cavalry  had  been  seen  that  morning  three  miles  in 
our  rear,  I  decided  on  an  immediate  attack.  Accordingly 
the  troops  advanced  to  within  one  mile  of  the  fort,  and  having 
ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  taken  little  or  no  precaution 
towards  the  land  side,  I  resolved  on  an  assault,  whilst  the 
Indians  penetrated  his  camp.  Brig.  gen.  Hull,  however,  pre- 
vented this  movement  by  proposing  a  cessation  of  hostilities, 
for  the  purpose  of  preparing  terms  of  capitulation.  Lieut. 
col.  John  M'Donnellandcapt.  Gleggwere  accordingly  deputed 
by  me  on  this  mission,  and  returned  within  an  hour  with  the 
conditions,  which  I  have  the  honour  herewith  to  transmit. 
Certain  considerations  afterwards  induced  me  to  agree  to  the 
two  supplementary  articles. 

The  force  thus  surrendered  to  his  majesty's  arms  cannot 
be  estimated  at  less  than  2500  men.  In  this  estimate  col. 
M' Arthur's  detachment  is  included,  as  he  surrendered, 
agreeably  to  the  terms  of  capitulation,  in  the  course  of  the 
evening,  with  the  exception  of  two  hundred  men,  whom  he 
left  escorting  a  valuable  convoy  at  some  little  distance  in  his 
ar;  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  the  officer  commanding  will 
nsider  himself  equally  bound  by  the  capitulation. 
The  enemy's  aggregate  force  was  divided  into  two  troops 
of  cavalry  ;  one  company  of  artillery  regulars  ;  the  fourth 
United  States  regiment ;  detachments  of  the  first  and  third 
United  States  regiment  volunteers  ;  three  regiments  of  the 
Ohio  militia;  one  regim-nt  of  the  Michigan  territory. 

Thirty-three  pieces  of  brass  and  iron  ordnance  have   al- 
ready been  secured. 

When  this  contest  commenced,  many  of  the  Indian  nations 
re  engaged  in  active  warfare  with  the  United  States,  not- 
thstanding  the  constant  endeavours  of  this  government  to 
ssuade  them  from  it.     Some  of  the  principal  chiefs   hap- 
pened to  be  at  Amherstburg,   trying  to  procure   a   supply  of 
arms  and  ammunition,  which  for  years  had  been  withheld, 
reeably  to  the  instructions  received  from  sir  James   Craig, 
d  since  repeated  by  your  excellency. 

From  that  moment  they  took  a  most  active  part,  and   ap- 
red  foremost  on  every  occasion ;  they  were  led  yesterday 
col.  Elliot  and  capt.    M'Kee,  and  nothing  could  exceed 
ir  order  and  steadiness.     A  few  prisoners  were  taken  by 
m  during  the  advance,  whom  they  treated  with  every  hu- 
rainity;  and  it  affords  me  much  pleasure    in  assuring   your 
excellency,  that  such  was  ihtir  forbearance  and  attention  to 
at  was  required  of  them,  that  the    enemy  sustained  no 

[„    I.    PAFJT    II;  fT| 


£8]  HISTORICAL  Jir.f.J ::>T1.K.     • 

other  loss  of  men  than  what  was  occasioned  Hy  th 
our  batteries. 

The  high  sense  I  entertain  of  the  abilities  and  judgment 
of  lieut.  col.  Myers,  induced  me  to  appoint  him  to  the  im- 
portant command  at  Niagara  ;  it  was  with  reluctance  that  I  de- 
prived myself  of  his  assistance,  but  I  had  no  other  expedient ; 
his  duties  as  head  of  the  quarter-master-general's  depart- 
ment were  performed  to  my  satisfaction  by  lieut.  col.  Ni- 
cholls,  quarter-master-g  neral  of  the  militia. 

Captain  Glegg,  my  aid-de-camp,  will  have  the  honour  of 
delivering  this  despatch  to  your  excellency  ;  he  is  charged 
with  the  colours  taken  at  the  capture  of  fort  Detroit,  and 
those  of  the  4th  United  States  regiment. 

Captain  Glegg  is  capable  of  giving  your  excellency  every 
information  respecting  the  state  of  this  province  ;  and  I  shall 
esteem  myself  highly  indebted  to  your  excellency  to  afford 
him  that  protection,  to  which  his  merit  and  length  of  ser 
give  him  a  powerful  claim.     I  have  the  honour  to  be,  fkc. 
(Signed)  ISAAC  BROCK,  Major-Gen. 

P.  S.  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  a  copy  of  a  proclama- 
tion, which  I  issued  immediately  on  taking  possession  of  this 
country. 

I  should  have  mentioned  in  the  body  of  my  despatch  the 
capture  of  the  Adams  ;  she  is  a  fine  vessel,  and  recently  re- 
paired, but  without  arms. 

PROCLAMATION. 

By  Ixaac  Brock,  Esq.  Major-General,  commanding  his  Me- 
jestifs  Forces  in  the  Province  of  Upper  Canada,  a  Procla- 
mation. 

"Whereas  the  territory  of  Michigan  was  this  day,  by  capi- 
tulation, ceded  to  the  arms  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  with- 
out any  other  condition  than  the  protection  of  private  pro- 
perty ;  and  wishing  to  give  :n  c  r.rly  proof  of  the  moderation 
and  justice  of  the  government,  I  do  hereby  announce  to  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  said  territory  that  the  laws  heretofore 
in  existence  .snail  continue  in  force  until  his  majesty's  plea- 
sure be  known,  or  so  long  as  the  peace  and  safV.ty  of  the  said 
territory  will  admit  thereof.  And  I  do  hereby  also  declare 
and  make  known  to  the  said  inhabitants  that  they  shall  be 
protected  in  the  full  cxerc',  .r.ent  of  their  religion, 

of  which  all  persons,  both  civil  and    military,    will  t;tke   no- 
tice, and  govern  tht-mselves  accordingly. 

All  persons  having  in  their  possession,  or  having  any 
knowledge  of  any  public  property,  shall  forthwith  deliver  in 


• 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [59 

the  same,  or  give  notice  thereof  to  the  officer  commanding, 
lieutenant-colonel  Nichol,  who  are  hereby  authorised  to 
ceive  and  give  proper  receipts  for  the  same. 
Officers  of  the  militia  will  be  held  responsible  that  all  arms 
in  possession  of  the  militia-men  be  immediately  delivered 
up ;  and  all  individuals  whatever,  who  have  in  their  posses- 
sion arms  of  any  kind,  will  deliver  them  up  without  delay. 
Given  under  my  hand,  at  Detroit,  this  16th  day  of  August, 

112,  and  in  the  52d  year  of  his  majesty's  reign. 
(Signed)  "  ISAAC  BROCK,  Major-GencraL 

A  true  copy. 
Macdonnell,  Lt.  Col.  Militia,  fc?  A.  D.  C. 
Regulations  of  the  Civil  Government  of  the  Territory  of 

Michigan. 

Whereas  the  territory  of  Michigan  was,  on  the  sixteenth 
day  of  August,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twelve, 
ceded  by  capitulation  to  the  arms  of  his  Britannic  majesty, 
and  the  American  flag  removed  and  the  British  flag  substitu- 
>d  on  the  same  day  at  noon ;  and  whereas  on  the  same  day 
proclamation  was  issued  by  Isaac  Brock,  esq.  major-general, 
mmanding  his  majesty's  forces  in  the  province  of  Upper 
nada,  &c.  &c.  &c.  And  the  said  proclamation,  among  other 
ings,  announces  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  territory, 
at  "wishing  to  give  an  early  proof  of  the  moderation  and 
justice  of  the  British  government,  the  American  laws  here- 
tofore in  existence  shall  continue  in  force  until  his  majesty's 
leasure  be  known,  or  so  long  as  the  peace  and  safety  of  the 
id  territory  will  admit  thereof."  And  whereas  the  said 
.ws  cannot  be  carried  into  execution  according  to  the  effect 
d  intention  so  announced  to  the  inhabitants,  without  pro- 
ding  for  the  existence  and  continuance  of  the  proper  civil 
cers,  for  the  execution  of  the  same,  and  without  the  ne- 
ssary  courts  and  other  judicial  authorities  for  the  adminis- 
ation  of  justice  amongst  the  said  inhabitants :  Now  there- 
fore be  it  known,  that  I,  the  undersigned  Henry  Proctor,  co- 
nel  in  the  military  forces  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  now 
mmanding  in  the  territory  of  Michigan,  do  make  and 
ablish,  for  the  time  being,  the  following  regulations  for  the 
vil  administration  of  the  said  territory : 
1st.  The  civil  officers,  remaining  in  the  country,  shall  con- 
tinue to  exercise  the  respective  functions  appertaining  to 
their  offices,  without  any  new  commissions  for  the  same,  and 
those  offices  which  are  suspended  by  the  departure  from  the 
country  of  those  holding  them,  shall  be  supplied  as  herein- 
after provided. 


! 


60]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

2ci.  The  civil  executive  powers  shall  be  exercised  by  a  civil 
governor.  The  civil  governor  shall  appoint  to  all  civil  offices, 
which  are  or  shall  be  vacant,  and  shall  take  care  that  the  laws 
be  faithfully  executed. 

3d.  Courts  of  justice  shall  be  held  as  usual. 

4th.  Legislative  provisions  need  not  be  adopted  from  the 
laws  of  any  of  the  American  states.  A  majority  shall  not 
be  necessary  when  any  of  the  offices  are  vacant.  The  secre- 
tary shall  make  two  copies  of  all  executive  proceedings  and 
legislative  regulations,  one  of  which  shall  be  transmitted  for 
the  use  of  the  British  government,  and  the  other  be  retained. 

5th.  The  expenses  of  the  civil  administration  shall  be  de- 
frayed quarterly  by  the  proper  officer  in  the  military  depart- 
ment, paying  the  lawful  amount  thereof  to  the  civil  treasurer. 
The  duties,  customs,  revenues  accruing  according  to  the  laws 
of  the  United  States,  shall  be  paid  quarterly  by  the  collectors  to 
the  proper  officer  in  the  military  department.  The  internal 
duties  and  revenues  accruing  to  the  territory  of  Michigan, 
shall  be  paid  to  the  proper  treasurers  thereof. 

6th.  The  undersigned  will  act  as  civil  governor  of  the  ter- 
ritory of  Michigan  for  the  time  being.  August-is  B.  Wood- 
ward, chief  justice  of  the  said  territory,  is  appointed  secreta- 
ry. The  offices  of  register  and  receiver  of  the  land  office 
and  post-master  are  superseded,  rr serving  a  full  right  to  ad- 
just all  anterior  concerns.  All  officers  in  the  Indian  depart- 
ment are  superseded. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  Detroit,  the  21st  day  of  August, 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twelve,  and  in  the  fifty- 
second  year  of  his  majesty's  reip-n. 

(Signed)  HENRY  PROCTOR,  col. 


EVACUATION    OF    CHICAGO. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Heald,  late  Commandant  at 

Fort  Chicago,  dated  at  Pittsburgh,  Oct.  23,  1812. 
On  the  9th  of  August  last,  I  received  orders  from  gene- 
ral Hull  to  evacuate  the  post  and  proceed  with  mv  command 
to  Detroit  by  land,  leaving  it  at  my  discretion  to  dispose  of 
the  public  property  as  I  thought  proper.  The  neighbouring 
Indians  got  the  information  as  early  as  I  did,  and  came  in 
from  all  quarters  in  order  to  receive  the  goods  in  the  factory 
store,  which  they  understood  were  to  be  given  them.  On  the 
13th,  captain  Wells,  of  fort  Wayne,  arrived  with  about  3O 
Miamies,  for  the  purpose  of  escorting  us  in,  by  the  request 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [61 

of  general  Hull.     On  the   14th,  I  delivered  the_  Indians  all 
the  goods  in  the  factory  store  and  a  considerable  quantity  of 
provisions  which  we  could  not  take  away  with  us.    The  sur- 
plus arms  and  ammunition  I  thought  proper  to  destroy,  fear- 
ing they  would  make  bad  use  of  it  if  put  in  their  possession. 
I  also  destroyed  all  the  liquor  on  hand  soon  after  they  began 
to  collect.     The  collection  was  unusually  large  for  that  place, 
but  they  conducted  with  the  strictest  propriety  till  after  I  left 
the  fort.  On  the  15th,  at  nine  in  the  morning,  we  commenced 
our  march ;  a  part  of  the  Miamies  were  detached  in  front, 
and  the  remainder  in  our  rear,  as  guards,  under  the  direction 
of  captain  Wells.     The  situation  of  the  country  rendered  it 
necessary  for  us  to  take  the  beach,  with  the  lake  on  our  left, 
and  a  high  sand  bank  on  our  right,  at  about  100  yards  dis- 
tance.    We  had  proceeded  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  when  it 
was  discovered  the  Indians  were  prepared  ; 
behind  the  bank.     I  immediately  marched  up  with  the  com- 
pany to  the  top  of  the  bank,  when  the  action  commenced  ; 
after  firing  one  round,  we  charged,  and   the  Indians  gave 
way  in   front  and  joined  those  on  our  flanks.     In  about  15 
mutes  they  got  possession  of  all  our  horses,  provisions,  and 
aggage  of  every  description,  and,  finding  the  Miamies  did 
ot  assist  us,  I  drew  off  the  few  men  I  had  left  and  took  pos- 
ession  of  a  small  elevation  in  the  open  prairies,  out  of  shot  of 
he  bank  or  any  other  cover.  The  Indians  did  not  follow  me, 
ut  assembled  in  a  body  on  the  top   of  the  bank,  and,  after 
ome  consultation  among  themselves,  made  signs  for  me  to 
pproach  them.     I  advanced  towards  them  alone,  and  was 
et  by  one  of  the  Potawatamie  chiefs,  called  the  Black  Bird, 
,vith  an  interpreter.     After  shaking  hands,  he  requested  me 
o  surrender,  promising  to  spare  the  lives  of  all  the  prison- 
rs.     On  a  few  moments  consideration,  I  concluded  it  would 
e  most  prudent  to  comply  with  his  request,  although  I  did 
ot  put  entire  confidence  in  his  promise.      After  delivering 
up  our  arms  we  were  taken  back  to  their  encampment  near 
the  fort,  and  distributed  among  the   different    tribes.     The 
ext  morning  they  set  fire  to  the  fort  and  left  the  place,  taking 
e   prisoners  with  them. — Their  number  of  warriors  was 
etween  four  and  five  hundred,  mostly  of  the  Potawatamie 
ation,  and  their  loss,  from  the  best  information  I  could  get, 
was  about  15.     Our  strength  was  54  regulars  and  12  militia, 
out  of  which  26  regulars  and  all  the  militia  were  killed  in 
the  action,  with  two  women  and  twelve  children.     Ensign 
George  Roman  and  Dr.  Isaac  V   Van  Voorhis  of  my  com- 
pany, with  captain  Wells,  of  fort  Wayne,  are,  to  my  great 


62]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

sorrow,  numbered  among  the  dead.  Lieutenant  Lina  D. 
T.  Helm,  with  25  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates, 
and  1 1  women  and  children,  were  prisoners  when  we  sepa- 
rated. Mrs.  Heald  and  myself  were  taken  to  the  mouth  of 
the  river  St.  Joseph,  and  being  both  badly  wounded,  were 
permitted  to  reside  with  Mr.  Burnett,  an  Indian  trader.  In 
a  few  days  after  our  arrival  there,  the  Indians  all  went  off  to 
take  fort  Wayne,  and  in  their  absence  I  engaged  a  French- 
man to  take  us  to  Michillimackinac  by  water,  when  I  gave 
myself  up  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  with  one  of  my  Serjeants. 
The  commanding  officer,  captain  Roberts,  offered  me  every 
assistance  in  his  power  to  render  our  situation  comfortable 
while  we  remained  there,  and  to  enable  us  to  proceed  on  our 
journey.  To  him  I  gave  my  parole  of  honour  and  came  on 
to  Detroit,  and  reported  myself  to  colonel  Proctor,  who  gave 
us  a  passage  to  Buffalo ;  from  that  place  I  came  by  the  way 
of  Presque  Isle,  and  arrived  here  yesterday. 


CRUIZE  OF  THE  SOJJADRON  UNDER  COMMODORE  RODGERS. 

Letter  from  Commodore  Rodger s  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
United  States.  Frigate  President,  Boston,  Sept.  1,  1812. 

Sir,  I  had  the  honour  yesterday  of  informing  you  of  the 
arrival  of  the  squadron,  and  have  now  to  state  the  result  and 
particulars  of  our  cruise. 

Previous  to  leaving  New- York  on  the  21st  of  June,  I 
heard  that  a  British  convoy  had  sailed  from  Jamaica  for 
England  on  or  about  the  20th  of  the  preceding  month,  and 
on  being  informed  of  the  declaration  of  war  against  Great 
Britain,  I  determined,  in  the  event  of  commodore  Decatuv 
joining  me  with  the  United  States,  Congress,  and  Argus,  as 
you  had  directed,  to  go  in  pursuit  of  them. 

The  United  States,  Congress,  and  Argus,  did  join  me  on 
the  21st;  with  which  vessels,  this  ship,  and  the  Hornet,  I 
accordingly  sailed  in  less  than  an  hour  after  I  received  your 
orders  of  the  18th  of  June,  accompanied  by  your  official 
communication  of  the  declaration  of  war. 

On  leaving  New-York   I   shaped   our  course  south-ca 

\Ily,  in  the  expectation  of  tailing  in  with  vessels,  by  which 

I  should  hear  of  the  before  mentioned  convoy,  and  the  fol- 

aig  night  met  with  an  American  brig  that  gave  me  the 

sought-for  information  ;  the  squadron  now  crowded   sail  in 

pursuit;  but  the  next  morning  was  taken  out  of  its  course  by 

fa  British  frigate,  that  I  since  find  was  the  Be*- 


OFl'ICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 


viclere,  relative  to  which  I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  the  en- 
closed extract  from  my  journal;  afu-r  repairing  as  far  as 
possible  the  injury  done  by  the  Belvidere  to  our  spars  and 
rigging,  we  again  crowded  all  sail,  and  resumed  our  course 
in  pursuit  of  the  convoy,  but  did  not  receive  further  intelli- 
gence of  it,  until  the  29th  d  iv  of  June,  on  the  western  edge 
of  the  banks  of  N  wfoundland,  where  we  spoke  an  Ameri- 
can schooner,  the  master  of  which  reported  that  he  had  two 
days  before  passed  them  in  laiitude  43°,  longitude  55°,  steer- 
ing to  the  eastward.  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  the  convoy 
was  still  so  far  to  the  eastward  of  us,  but  was  urged,  how- 
ever, as  well  by  what  I  considered  my  duty,  as  my  inclina- 
tion, to  continue  the  pursuit. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  a  little  to  the  eastward  of  Newfound- 
land bank,  we  fell  in  with  quantities  of  cocoa-nut  shells, 
orange  peels,  Sec.  which  indicated  that  the  convoy  were  not 
far  distant,  and  we  pursued  it  with  zeal,  although  frequently 
taken  out  of  our  course  by  vessels  it  was  necessary  to  chase, 
without  gaining  any  further  intelligence  until  the  9th  of  July, 
in  latitude  45°,  30',  longitude  23°,  we  captured  the  British  pri- 
vate armed  brig  Dolphin,  of  Jersey,  and  were  informed  by 
some  of  the  crew,  that  they  hud  seen  the  convoy  the  prece- 
ding evening,  the  weather  was  not  clear  at  the  time,  but  that 

ey  had  counted  85  sail,  and  that  the  force  charged  with  the 

•otection  consisted  of  oue  two-uetker,  a  frigate,  a  sloop  of 

r,  and  a  brig 

This  was  the  last  intelligence  I  received  of  the  bt  fore-men- 
oned  convoy,  although  its  pursuit  was  continued  until  the 
13th  of  July,  being  then  wiihin  18  or  20  hours  sail   of  the 
British  channel. 

From  this  we  steered  for  the  island  of  Madeira,  passed 
.ose  by  it  on  the  21st  of  July,  thence  near  the  Azores,    and 
Corvo  and  Floresj  thence  steered  for  the  banks  of  New- 

indland :   and  from  the   latter   place  (by  the  way  of  Cape 

ble)  to  this  port,  it  having  become  indispensably  necessary 

y  the  time  we  reached   our  own  coast)  to  make  the  first 
convenient  port  in  the  United  States  ;  owing,  I  am  sorry  to 
to  that  wretched  disease  the    scurvy  having   made   its 
earance  on  board  of  the.  vessels,   most  generally  to  a  de- 
e  serioush  alarming, 
rom  the  western  parts  of  the  banks  of  Newfoundland  to 

r  making  the  island  of  Madeira,  the  weather  was  siv.;h,  at 
east  six  days  out  of  seven,  as  to  obscure,  from  our  disco- 
very every  object  that  we  did  not  pass  within  four  or  five  miles 
of,  and  indeed  for  several  days  together  the  fog  was  so  thick 


04  j  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

as  to  prevent  our  seeing  each  other,  even  at  cable's  length 
asunder,  more  than  twice  or  thrice  in  the  twenty-four  hours. 

From  the  time  of  leaving  the  United  States  until  we  ar- 
rived here,  we  chased  every  vessel  we  saw,  and  you  will  not 
he  a  little  astonished  when  I  inform  you  that,  although  we 
brought  to  every  thing  we  did  chase,  with  the  exception  of 
four  vessels,  we  onlv  made  seven  captures  and  one  recapture. 

It  is  truly  an  unpleasant  task  to  be  obliged  to  make  a  com- 
munication thus  barren  of  benefit  to  our  country;  the  only 
consolation  I  individually  feel  on  the  occasion  being  derived 
from  knowing  that  our  being  at  sea  obliged  the  enemy  to  con- 
centrate a  considerable  portion  of  his  most  active  force,  and 
thereby  prevented  his  capturing  an  incalculable  amount  of 
American  property  that  would  otherwise  have  fallen  a  sa- 
crifice. 

I  am  aware  of  the  anxiety  you  must  have  experienced  at 
not  hearing  from  me  for  such  a  length  of  time,  but  this  I  am 
sure  you  will  not  attribute  in  any  degree  to  neglect,  when  I 
inform  you  that  not  a  single  proper  opportunity  occurred 
from  the  time  of  leaving  the  United  States  until  our  return. 

Mr.  Newcomb,  who  will  deliver  you  this,  you  will  find  an 
intelligent  young  man,  capable  of  giving  such  further  infor- 
mation as  you  may  deem  of  any  moment:  he  will  at  the  same 
time  deliver  you  a  chart,  shewing  the  tract  in  which  we 
cruised:  annexed  is  a  list  of  vessels  captured,  re-captured, 
and  burnt. 

The  four  vessels  we  chased  and  did  not  come  up  with  were 
the  Belvidere,  a  small  pilot-boat  schooner  supposed  to  be  an 
American  privateer,  the  hermaphrodite  privateer  brig  Yan- 
kee, which  we  lost  sight  of  in  a  fog,  but  whose  character  we 
afterwards  learnt,  and  a  frigate  supposed  to  be  British,  that 
we  chased  on  the  28th  ult.  near  the  shoal  of  George's  Bank, 
and  should  certainly  have  come  up  with,  had  we  have  had  the 
advantage  of  two  hours  more  day-light. 

On  board  of  the  several  vessels  of  the  squadron  there  are 
between  80  and  100  prisoners,  taken  from  the  vessels  we  cap- 
tured during  our  late  cruize.  The  government  not  having 
any  agent  for  prisoners  here,  I  shall  send  them  to  commodore 
Bainbridge,  to  be  disposed  of  in  such  manner  as  best  appears 
to  be  the  interest  of  the  United  States,  and  which  I  hope  may 
meet  your  approbation.  With  the  greatest  respect,  I  have 
the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  RODGERS. 
The  lion.  Paul  Hamilton^  Secretary 
of  the  .A7r:-v/,  Washington. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [65 

Extract  from  the  journal  referred  to  in  the  preceding"  letter. 
9  June  23d.  Pleasant  breeezes  from  N.  N.  VV.  to  W.  S.  W. 
at  3  A.  M.  spoke  an  American  brig  from  Madeira,  bound  to 
New  York,  the  master  of  which  informed  me,  that  four  clays  be- 
fore (in  lat.  36.  long.  67)  he  passed  a  fleet  of  British  merchant- 
men, under  convoy  of  a  frigate  and  brig,  steering  to  the  east- 
ward :  I  now  perceived  that  this  was  the  convoy  of  which  I  had 
received  intelligence  prior  to  leaving  New  YorkT  and  shaped 
our  course  east  in  pursuit  of  them.  At  6  A.  M.  (Nantucket  shoal 
hearing  N.  E,  distant  35  miles)  saw  a  large  sail  in  N.  E.  stand- 
ing to  S.  W.  which  was  soon  discovered  to  be  a  frigate.  The 
signal  was  made  for  a  general  chase,  when  the  several  vessels  of 
the  squadron  took  in  their  studding  sails  and  made  all  sail  by 
the  wind  (on  the  starboard  tack)  in  pursuit :  at  a  quarter  before 
seven,  the  chase  tacked,  made  all  sail,  and  stood  from  us,  by  the 
•wind,  on  the  same  tack  :  at  half  past  8  he  made  signals,  when, 
perceiving  we  were  coming  up  with  him,  he  edged  away  a  point 
or  thereabouts,  and  set  his  top-gallant  studding  sails  :  at  1 1  clear- 
ed ship  for  action,  in  the  expectation  that  we  would  soon  be 
up  with  the  chase;  the  breeze  about  this  time  however  began  to 
incline  more  to  the  westward  and  became  lighter,  which  I  soon 
discovered  was  comparatively  an  advantage  to  our  opponent :  at 
a  quarter  past  1  P.  M.  the  chase  hoisted  English  colours :  at  2 
the  wind  veered  to  the  W.  S.  VV.  and  became  lighter :  at  20 
ihinutes  past  4,  having  got  within  gun  shot  of  the  enemy,  when 
perceiving  that  he  was  training  his  chase  guns,  and, in  the  act  (as 
I  supposed)  of  firing,  that  the  breeze  was  decreasing,  and  we  now 
sailed  so  nearly  alike,  that  to  afford  him  an  opportunity  of  doing 

te  first  injury  to  our  spars  and  rigging  would  be  to  enable  him 
eflect  his  escape,  I  gave  orders  to  commence  a  fire  with  the 
>w  chase  guns,  at  his  spars  and  rigging,  in  the  hope  of  crippling 
one  or  the  other,  so  far  as  to  enable  us  to  get  alongside.  The 
fire  from  our  bow  chase  guns  he  instantly  returned  with  those 
from  his  stern,  which  was  now  kept  up  by  both  ships,  without 
intermission,  until  30  minutes  past  4  P.  M.  when  one  of  the  Pre- 
sident's chase  guns  burst,  and  killed  and  wounded  16  persons, 
among  the  latter  myself.  This  was  not  however  the  most  seri- 
ous injury,  as  by  the  bursting  of  the  gun  and  the  explosion  of 
the  passing  box,  from  which  it  was  served  with  powder,  both 
the  main  and  forecastle  decks  (near  the  gun)  were  so  much  shat- 
tered as  to  prevent  the  use  of  the  chase  gun  on  that  side  for 
some  time;  our  main  deck  guns  being  single  shotted,  I  now 
gave  orders  to  put  our  helm  to  starboard  and  fire  the  starboard 
broadside,  in  the  expectation  of  disabling  some  of  his  spars,  but 
did  not  succeed,  although  I  could  discover  that  his  rigging  had 

VOL.  I.    PART  II.  [K] 


0)6]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

sustained  considerable  damage,  and  that  he  had  received  sov 
injury  in  the  stern. 

I  now  endeavoured,  by  altering  course  half  a  point  to  port  and 
wetting  our  sails,  to  gain  a  more  effectual  position  on  his  star- 
board quarter,  but  soon  found  myself  losing  ground.  Alter  this 
a  similar  attempt  was  made  at  his  larboard  quarter,  but  without  any 
belter  success,  as  the  wind  at  this  time  being  very  light,  and  both 
ships  s  tiling  so  nearly  alike  that  by  making  an  angle  of  only  half  a 
point  from  the  course  he  steered  enabled  him  to  augment  his  dis- 
tance :  no  hope  was  now  left  ol  bringing  him  to  close  action,  ex- 
cept that  derived  from  Ivingto  windward,  and  the  expectation  the 
breeze  might  favour  us  first:  1  accordingly  gave  orders  to  steer  di- 
rectly after  him,  and  to  keep  our  bow  chase  guns  playing  on  his 
spars  and  rigging,  until  our  broadside  would  more  effectually  reach 
him.  At  5,  finding  from  the  advantage  his  stern  guns  gave  him, 
that  he  had  done  considerable  injury  to  our  sails  and  rigging, 
and  being  within  point  blank  shot,  I  gave  orders  to  put  the  helm 
to  starboard  and  fire  our  main  deck  guns  ;  this  broadside  did 
some  further  damage  to  his  rigging,  and  I  could  perceive  that 
his  fore  top  sail  yard  was  wounded,  but  the  sea  was  so  very 
smooth, and  the  wind  so  light,  that  the  injury  done  was  not  such 
as  materially  to  affect  his  sailing.  After  this  broadside  our  course 
was  instantly  renewed  in  his  wake  (under  a  galling  fire  from  his 
stern  chase  guns,  directed  at  our  spars  and  rigging)  and  contin- 
ued until  half  past  six;  at  which  time  being  within  reach  of  his 
grape,  and  finding  our  sails,  rigging,  and  several  spars  (particu- 
larly the  main  yard,  which  had  little  left  to  support  it  except  the 
lifts  and  braces)  very  much  disabled,  I  again  gave  orders  to  luff 
across  his  stern,  and  gave  him  a  couple  of  broadsides. 

The  enemy  at  this  time  finding  himself  so  hardly  pressed,  and 
seeing,  while  in  the  act  of  firing,  our  head  sails  to  left,  and  sup- 
posing that  the  ship  had  in  a  measure  lost  the  effect  of  her  helm, 
he  gave  a  broad  yaw,  with  the  intention  of  bringing  his  broad- 
side to  bear:  finding  the  President,  however,  answered  her 
helm  too  quick  for  his  purpose,  he  immediately  reassumed  his 
course,  and  precipitately  fired  his  four  after  main  deck  guns  on 
the  starboard  side,  although  they  did  not  bear  upon  us  at  the 
time  by  25  or  30  degrees,  and  he  now  commenced  lightening  his 
ship  by  throwing  over-board  all  his  boats,  waste  anchors  &c.  &c. 
and  by  this  means  was  enabled  by  a  quarter  before  seven  to  get 
so  far  ahead  as  to  prevent  our  bow  chase  guns  doing  execution  ; 
and  I  now  perceived,  with  more  mortification  than  words  <.an 
express,  that  there  was  little  or  no  chance  lc?ft  of  getting  within 
gunshot  of  the  enemy  again.  U  intage  of 

disabled  spars,  sails,  and  rigging,  i  now^  cr  continued  the  chase 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [67 

irith  all  the  sail  we  could  set,  until  half  past  11  P.  M.  when  per- 
eiving  he  had  g.sined  upwards  of  three  miles,  and  not  the  slight- 
st  prospect  left  of  coming  up  with  him,  I  gave  up  the  pursuit, 
nd  made  the  signal  to  the  other  ships  as  they  came  up  to  do  the 
ame. 

During  the  first  of  the  chase,  while  the  breeze  was  fresh  and 
ailing  by  the  wind,  I  thought  the  whole  of  the  squadron  gained 
ipon  the  enemy.  It  was  soon  discoverable,  however,  the  advan- 
Age  he  acquired  by  sailing  large,  and  this  I  conceive  he  must 
ave  derived  in  so  great  a  degree  by  starting  his  water,  as  I  could 
icrceive,  upwards  of  an  hour  before  we  came  within  gun  shot, 
rater  running  out  of  his  scuppers. 

While  in  chase  it  was  difficult  to  determine  whether  our  own 
ituation  or  that  of  the  other  vessels  of  the  squadron  was  the 
nost  unpleasant.  The  superior  sailing  of  the  President  was 
iot  such  (off  the  wind)  as  to  enable  us  to  get  upon  the  broad- 
ide  of  the  enemy  ;  the  situation  of  the  others  was  not  less  irk- 
ome,  as  not  even  the  headmost,  which  was  the  Congress,  was 
ble  at  any  time  to  get  within  less  than  two  gun  shots  distant, 
.nd  even  at  that  but  for  a  very  little  time. 

In  endeavouring  to  get  alongside  of  the  enemy  the  following 
tersons  were  killed  and  wounded;   16  of  whom  were  killed  and 
vounded  by  the  bursting  of  our  own  gun,  viz. 
KILLED. 

John  Taylor,  jun.  midshipman. 

John  H.  Bird,  do. 

Francis  H.  D wight,  marine, 

WOUNDED. 

Commodore  Rodgers. 

Thomas  Gamble,  lieutenant,  severely. 

John  Heath,  lieutenant  marines,  slightly. 

Matthew  C.  Perry,  midshipman,  slightly. 

Frank  Ellery,  midshipman,  slightly. 

Lawrence  Montgomery,  midshipman,  lost  his  left  arm. 

John  Barrett,  quarter-gunner,  severely. 

John  Beasley,  do.         slightly. 

David  Basset,  do.         seve-ely,  since  dead. 

Andrew  Matthews,  do.         slightly. 

Jordan  Beebe,  armorer,         severely. 

John  Clapp,  seaman,  severely. 

James  Stewart,  do.  slightly. 

George  Ross,    do.  slightly. 

William  Thomas,  ordinary  seaman,  severely. 

Neil  Harding,  do.  do. 

John  Berry,  do.  do. 

Hehrv  Gilbert,  dn.  rto. 


68] 


>RICAL 


John  Smith,  5th  boy,  severely. 

NOTE — The  greater  part  of  the  wounded  have  since  nearl 
recovered. 

List  of  vessels  captured,  re-captured^  and  destroyed. 

July  2d.  Brig  Traveller,  277  tons,  James  Amery  roaster,  of 
Newcastle,  England,  10  men,  bound  from  the  bay  of  Fundy, 
owned  by  George  Dunn,  George  Watson,  Matthew  Dunn,  and 
John  Stoker,  cargo  timber.  Burnt. 

July  4th.     Brig  Dutchess  of  Portland,  6  guns,  11  men 
Newcastle,  England,  bound  from  Newcastle  to  Nova  Scotia,  i 
ballast.     Burnt. 

July  9th.  Brig  Dolphin,  241  tons,  12  guns  and  20  mer 
Philip  Cabbot,  of  Jersey,  England,  bound  from  Jersey  to  New 
foundland,  in  ballast  and  some  cargo,  owned  by  Winter  and  Ni 
toll— sent  into  the  United  States. 

July  24th.  Ship  John,  of  Lancaster,  16  guns  and  30  mer 
bound  from  London  to  Martinique,  in  ballast — sent  into  th 
United  States. 

August  2d.  Brig  Argo,  168  tons,  1O  guns  and  10  men,  Wil 
liam  Middleton  master,  of  London,  bound  from  Pernambuc< 
to  London,  laden  with  cotton,  fustic,  and  about  S8000  in  gold— • 
ordered  for  the  United  States. 

August  17th.     Schr.  Adeline,  of  London,   10  men,  bound 
from  Hayti  to  London,  laden  with  coffee — ordered  her  for  t 
United  States. 

August  25th.  Schr.  Betsey,  of  Marblehead,  from  Naple 
laden  with  brandy,  re-captured  from  the-  Guerriere,  who  had  or 
dered  her  for  Halifax  ;  4  men  and  a  midshipman  (prize  master 
*- ordered  her  for  the  United  States. 

JOHN  RODGERS. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [69 

Copy  of  (i  Letter  from  Captain  Hull  to  the  Secretary  of 

the  Navy. 

United  States'  Frigate  Constitution,  August  28,  1812. 
Sir,  the  enclosed  account  of  the  affair  between  the  Presi- 
dent, commodore  Rodgers,  and  the  British  frigate  Belvidera, 
.  fell  into  my  hands  by  accident.    It  clearly  proves  that  she 
only  escaped  the  commodore  by  superior  sailing,  after  having 
lightened  her,  and  the  President  being  very  deep. 

As  much  has  been  said  on  this  subject ;  and  commodore 
Rodgers  has  not  arrived,  to  give  you  his  statement  of  the 
affair,  if  it  meet  your  approbation  I  should  be  pleased  to  have 
this  account  published,  to  prevent  people  from  making  up 
their  minds  hastily,  as  I  find  them  willing  to  do. 

I  am  confident  could  the  commodore  have  got  alongside 
the  Belvidera,  she  would  have  been  his,  in  less  than  one 
hour.  1  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,' sir,  your 
obedient  servant, 

ISAAC  HULL. 
The  Honourable  Paul  Hamilton,  £f?c. 


Account  of  the  Proceedings  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Belvidera^ 
Richard  Byron,  Esq.  Captain,  23d  day  of  June,  1812. 
A.  M.  4,  40,  Nantacket  Shoal  bearing  S.  W.  saw  several 
sail,  made  sail  towards  them;  at  6,  30,  they  bore  S.  W.  S. 
Le  them  out  to  be  three,  frigates,  one  sloop,  and  one  brig 
of  war,  standing  to  the  S.  E.  under  a  press  of  sail.     Observ- 
ed them  to  make  signals,  and  haul  up  in  chase  of  us,  hauling 
wn  their  steering  sails,   in  a  confused  and  irregular  man- 
Tacked  ship,  and  made  the  private  signal,  which  was 
answered;  made  all  sail  possible.  N.  E.  by  E.  at  eight, 
moderate  and  fine  weather,  the  headmost  ship  of  the  chase 

K3.  W.  4  W.  apparently  gaining  ground  on  us  at  times, 
leaving  her  consorts.  At  11,  30,  hoisted  our  colours 
and  pendant,  the  chase  hoisted  American  colours,  two  of 
them  hoisted  commodores'  broad  pendants,  at  noon  the  com- 
modore and  the  second  headmost  ship  of  the  chase  S.  W. 
4-  W.  about  2£  of  a  mile,  Nantucket  Shoal  N.  4  OO  E.  48 
miles,  moderate  and  fine  weather,  cleared  ship  for  action, 
commodore  of  chase  gaining,  the  other  ships  dropping,  ob- 
served the  chase  pointing  her  guns  at  us  ;  at  3,  30,  the  com- 
modore fired  three  shots,  one  of  which  struck  the  rudder 
coat,' and  came  into  the  after  gun-room,  the  other  two  came 
into  the  upper,  or  captain's  cabin,  one  of  which  struck  the 
muzzle  of  the  larboard  chase  gun,  the  other  went  through 
the  beam  under  the  skylight,  killed  William  Coukl,  seaman; 
•  i.  PART  ii. 


70]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

wounded  John  Hill,  armourer,  mortally;  Joseph  Lee, 
man,  severely;  George  Marlon,  ship's  corporal,  badly;  Lieu- 
tenant Bruce,  James  Kelly,  and  James  Larmont,  seamen, 
slightly.  At  3,  45,  commenced  firing  with  our  stern  guns, 
shot  away  her  larboard  lower  steering-sail,  keeping  our  ship 
a  steady  course  N.  E.  by  E.  At  four  the  chase  bore  up  and 
fired  her  larboard  broadside,  which  cut  our  rigging  and  sails 
much,  the  long  bolts,  breeching  hooks,  and  breechings  of  the 
guns  and  carronades  frequently  breaking  (by  one  of  which 
captain  Byron  was  severely  wounded  in  the  left  thigh),  all  of 
which  was  instantly  replaced.  Kept  Up  a  constant  fire,  which 
was  returned  by  our  opponent  with  bow  chase  guns,  and  at 
times  by  her  broadsides,  which,  by  her  superiority  of  sailing, 
she  was  enabled  to  do  till  6,  45,  when  we  cut  away  our  spare 
sheet,  and  small  bower  anchors,  barge,  yawl,  and  jolly-boats, 
and  started  fourteen  tons  of  water;  we  then  gained  on  him, 
when  he  bore  up  and  fired  three  broadsides,  part  of  which 
fell  short  of  us;  at  seven  our  opponent  ceased  firing,  and  the 
second  frigate  commenced,  but  finding  her  shot  fall  short, 
ceased  again.  Employed  fishing  our  cross-jack  yard,  and  main 
top-mast  (both  badly  wounded),  knotting  and  splicing  our 
rigging,  which  was  much  cut  and  damaged.  At  eleven  al- 
tered our  course  to  E.  by  S.  i  S.  and  lost  sight  of  our -oppo- 
nents. 


ESCAPE  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION. 

United  States'  Frigate  Constitution,  at  Sea, 
July  21,  1812. 

Sir,  in  pursuance  of  your  orders  of  the  3d  instant,  I  left 
Annapolis  on  the  5th  instant,  and  the  capes  on  the  12th,  of 
which  I  advised  you  by  the  pilot  who  brought  the  ship  to 
sea. 

For  several  days  after  we  got  out,  the  wind  was  light  and 
a-head,  which  with  a  strong  southerly  current  prevented  our 
tnaking  much  way  to  the  northward.  On  the  ITth,  at  two 
P.  M.,  being  in  22  fathoms  water  oft  Egg  Harbour,  four  sail 
of  ships  were  discovered  from  the  mast  head,  to  the  north- 
ward and  in  shore  of  us,  apparently  ships  of  war._  The  wind. 
being  very  light  all  sail  was  made  in  chase  of  them,  to  ascer- 
tain whether  they  were  the  enemy's  .ships  or  our  squadron  hav- 
ing got  out  of  New  York,  waiting  the  arrival  of  the  Consti- 
tution, the  latter  of  which  I  had  reason  to  believe  was  thr 
case, 

X 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [71 

At  four  in  the  afternoon  a  ship  was  seen  from  the  mast 
head,  bearing  about  N.  E.,  standing  for  us  under  all  sail, 
which  she  continued  to  do  until  sun-down,  at  which  time  she 
was  too  far  off  to  distinguish  signals,  and  the  ships  in  shore 
only  to  be  seen  from  the  tops  ;  they  were  standing  off  to  the 
southward  and  eastward.  As  we  could  not  ascertain  before 
dark  what  the  ship  in  the  offing  was,  I  determined  to  stand 
:br  her,  and  get  near  enough  to  make  the  night  signal. 

At  ten  in  the  evening,  being  within  six  or  eight  miles  of 
the  strange  sail,  the  private  signal  was  made,  and  kept  up 
nearly  one  hour,  but  finding  she  could  not  answer  it  I  con- 
cluded she  and  the  ships  in  shore  were  enemy. 

I  immediately  hauled  off  to  the  southward  and  eastward, 
d  made  all  sail,  having  determined  to  lie  off  till  day-light 
to  see  what  they  were.     The  ship  that  we  had  been  chasing' 
hauled  off  after  us,  showing  a  light  and  occasionally  'making 
signals,  supposed  to  be  for  the  ships  in  shore. 

18th,  at  day-liglit,  or  a  little  before  it  was  quite  light,  saw 
two  sail  under  our  lee,  wrhich  proved  to  be  frigates  of  .the 
emy's.  One  frigate  astern  within  about  five  or  six  miles, 
d  a  line  of  battle  ship,  a  frigate,  a  brig,  and  schooner,  about 
or  twelve  miles  directly  astern,  all  in  chase  of  us,  with  a 
e  breeze,  and  coming  up  fast,  it  being  nearly  calm  where 
were.  Soon  after  sunrise  the  wind  entirely  left  us,  and 
ship  would  not  steer,  but  fell  round  off  with  her  head  to- 
rds  the  two'ships  under  our  lee.  The  boats  were  instantly 
isted  out  and  sent  a-head  to  tow  the  ship's  head  round,  and. 
endeavour  to  get  her  farther  from  the  enemy,  being  then 
thin  five  miles  of  three  heavy  frigates.  The  boats  of  the 
emy  were  got  out  and  sent  a-head  to  tow,  by  which,  with  the 
light  air  that  remained  with  them,  they  came  up  very  fast. 
Finding  the  enemy  gaining  on  us,  and  but  little  chance  of  es- 
caping from  them,  I  ordered  two  of  the  guns  on  -the  gun- 
deck  to  be  run.  out  at  the  cabin  windows  for  stern  guns  on  the 
gun-deck,  and  hoisted  one  of  the  24  pounders  off  the  gun- 
deck,  and  run  that,  with  the  forecastle  gun,  an  18  pounder, 
out  at  the  ports  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  cleared  the  ship  for 
action,  being  determined  they  should  not  get  her  without  re- 
sistance on  our  part,  notwithstanding  their  force  and  the  situ- 
ation we  were  placed  in. 

At  about  seven  in  the  morning,'  the  ship  nearest  us  ap- 
proaching within  gun  shot,  and  directly  astern,  I  ordered  one 
of  the  stern  guns  fired  to  see  if  we  could  reach  her  to  endea- 
vour to  disable  her  masts ;  found  the  shot  fell  a  little  short, 
not  fire  anv  more. 


72]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

At  eight,  four  of  the  enemy's  ships  nearly  within 
some  of  them  having  six  or  eight  boats  a-he;ul  towi'. 
nil  their  oars  and  sweeps  out  to  row  them  up  with  us,  which 
thev  were  fast  doing.     It  now  appeared   that  we  must  be 
taken,  and  that  our  escape  was  impossibu — four  heavy  ships 
nearly  within  gun-shot,  and  coming  up  last,  and  not  the  ! 
hope  of  a  breeze  to  give  us  a  chance  of  getting  off  by  out- 
sailing them. 

In  this  situation,  finding  ourselves  in  only  twenty-four  fa- 
thoms water,  by  the  suggestion  of  that  valuable  officer  lieu- 
tenant Morris,  I  determined  to  try  and  warp  the  ship  a-head, 
by  carrying  out  anchors  and  warping  her  up  to  them;  three 
or  four  hundred  fathoms  of  rope  was  instantly  got  up,  and 
two  anchors  got  ready  and  sent  a-head,  by  which  means  we 
began  to  gain  a-head  of  the  enemy:  they  however  s- 
our  boats  carrying  out  the  anchors,  and  adopted  the  same 
plan,  under  very  advantageous  circumstances,  as  all  the  boats 
from  the  ship  furthermost  off  were  sent  to  tow  and  warp  up 
those  nearest  to  us,  by  which  means  they  again  came  up,  so 
that  at  nine  the  ship  nearest  us  began  to  fire  her  bow  guns, 
which  we  instantly  returned  by  our  stern  guns  in  the  cabin 
and  on  the  quarter-deck.  All  the  shot  from  the  enemy  fell 
short ;  but  \ve  have  reason  to  believe  that  some  of  ours  went 
on  board  her,  as  we  could  not  see  them  strike  the  Mater. 
Soon  after  nine  a  second  frigate  passed  under  our  lee  and 
opened  her  broadside,  but  finding  her  shot  fall  short,  discon- 
tinued her  fire;  but  continued,  as  did  all  the  rest  of  them,  to 
make  every  possible  exertion  to  get  up  with  us*  From  nine 
to  twelve  all  hands  were  employed  in  warping  the  ship  a-head, 
;;nd  in  starting  some  of  the  water  in  the  main  hold  to  lighten 
her,  which  with  the  help  of  a  light  air  v;e  rather  gained  of 
the  enemy,  or  at  least  held  our  own.  About  two  in  the  af- 
ternoon, all  the  boats  from  the  line  of  battle-ship  and  some 
of  the  frigates  were  sc;,t  to  the  frigate  nearest  to  us,  to  en- 
deavour to  tow  her  up,  but  a  light  breeze  sprung  up,  which 
enabled  us  to  hold  way  with  her,  notwithstanding  they  had 
eight  or  ten  boats  a-head,  and  all  her  sails  furled  to  tow  her 
to  windward.  The  wind  continued  light  until  eleven  at  night, 
and  the  boats  were  kept  a-hertd  towing  and  warping  to  keep 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy,  three  of  the  frigates  being- 
very  near  us;  at  eleven  we  got  a  light  breeze  from  the  south- 
ward, the  boats  came  alongside  and  were  hoisted  up,  the  ship 
having  too  much  way  to  keep  them  a-head,  the  enenv 
chase,  and  very  near. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [7& 

19th,  at  day-light  passed  within  gun-shot  of  on'p  of  the  fri- 
gates, but  she  did  not  fire  on  us,  perhaps  for  fear  of  becalm- 
ing her,  as  the  wind  was  Tight;  soon  after  passing  us  she 
tacked  and  stood  after  us— at  this  time  six  sail  were  in  sight, 
tinder  all  sail  after  us.  At  nine  in  the  morning  saw  a  strange 
sail  on  our  weather  beam,  supposed  to  be  an  American  mer- 
chant ship;  the  instant  the  frigate  nearest  us  saw  her  she 
hoisted  American  colours,  as  did  all  the  squadron  in  hopes 
to  decoy  her  down;  I  immediately  hoisted  English  colours, 
that  she  might  not  be  deceived;  she  soon  hauled  her  wind, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  made  her  escape.  All  this  day  the  wind 
increased  gradually,  and  we  gained  on  the  enemy,  in.  the 
course  of  the  day,  six  or  eight  miles;  they  however  conti- 
nued chasing  us  all  night  under  a  press  of  sail. 

20th,  at  day-light  in  the  morning,  only  three  of  them  could 
be  seen  from  the  mast-head,  the  nearest  of  which  was  about 
twelve  miles  off,  directly  astern.  All  hands  were  set  at  work 
wetting  the  sails,  from  the  rovals  down,  with  the  engine  and 
fire-buckets,  and  we  soon  found  that  we  left  the  enemy  very 
fast.  At  quarter  past  eight  the  enemy  finding  that  they  were 
fast  dropping  astern,  gave  over  chase,  and  hauled  their  wind 
to  the  northward,  probably  for  the  station  off  New  York. — 
At  half  past  eight  saw  a  sail  a-head,  gave  chase  after  her  un- 
der all  sail.  At  nine  saw  another  strange  sail  under  our  lee- 
bow,  wre  soon  spoke  the  first  sail  discovered,  and  found  her 
to  be  an  American  brig  from  St.  Domingo,  bound  to  Port- 
land :  I  directed  the  captain  how  to  steer  to  avoid  the  enemy, 
and  made  sail  for  the  vessel  to  leeward ;  on  coming  up  with 
her,  she  proved  to  be  an  American  brig  from  St.  Bartholo- 
mews, bound  to  Philadelphia;  but  on  being  informed  of  war 
he  bore  up  for  Charleston,  S.  C.  Finding  the  ship  so  far  to 
the  southward  and  eastward,  and  the  enemy's  squadron  sta- 
tioned off  New  York,  which  would  make  it  impossible  for 
the  ship  to  get  in  there,  I  determined  to  make  for  Boston,  to 
receive  your  further  orders,  and  I  hope  my  having  done  so 
will  meet  your  approbation.  My  wish  to  explain' to  you  as 
clearly  as  possible  why  your  orders  have  not  been  executed, 
and  the  length  of  time  the  enemy  were  in  chase  of  us,  with 
various  other  circumstances,  have  caused  me  to  make  this 
communication  much  longer  than  I  could  have  wished,  yet 
I  canfiot,  in  justice  to  the  brave  officers  and  crew  under  my 
command,  close  it  without  expressing  to  you  the  confidence  I 
have  in  them,  and  assuring  you  that  their  conduct  whilst  un- 
der the  guns  of  the  enemy  was  such  as  might  have  been  ex- 
pected from  American  officers  and  seamen.  I  have  the  ho- 


74] 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 


nour  to  be,  with  very  great  respect,  sir,  your  obedu 
ble  servant, 

(Signed)  ISAAC  HULL. 

To  the  Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  S> 
of  the  Navi^  Washington. 


CAPTAIN    HULL  S    SECOND    CRU1ZL'. 

United  Staff  a"1  Frigate  Constitution,  cjf  Boston  Light. 

Angus t  23,  1812. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  after  leaving 
Boston  Light  on  the  2d  instant,  the  date  of  my  last  letter  to 
•you,  I  stood  to  the  eastward  along  the  coast,  in  hopes  to  fall 
in  with  one  of  the  enemy's  frigates,  which  was  reported  to 
be  cruizing  in  that  direction,  the  day  before  I  left  Boston. 
I  passed  near  the  coast,  as  far' down  as  the  Bay  of  Funcly, 
but  saw  nothing.  I  then  run  off  Halifax  and  Cape  Sables, 
and  remained  near  there  for  three  or  four  days  without  see- 
ing any  thing,  which  made  me  determine  to  change  mv  situ- 
ation' to  the  eastward  towards  Newfoundland.  I  accordingly 
bore  up,  and  run  to  the  eastward  under  all  sail,  passing  ; 
the  Isle  of  Sables,  and  hauling  in  to  take  a  station  of: 
Gulph  of  St.  Lawrence,  near  Cape  Race,  to  intercept  the 
ships  of  the  enemy  bound  either  to  or  from  Quebec  or  Ha- 
lifax, or  to  be  in  a  situation  to  re-capture  such  of  our  v 
they  might  be  sending  in. 

On  the  10th  instant,  being  off  Cape  Race,  I  fell  in  with  a 
light  merchant  brig,  bound  to  Halifax  from  Newfoundland  ; 
and  as  she  was  not  worth  sending  in,  I  took  the  crew  on 
board  and  set  her  on  fire.  On  the  llth  I  fell  in  with  the 
British  brig  Adcona,  from  Nova-Scotia,  bound  to  England, 
loaded  with  timber.  I  took  the  crew  out  of  her  and  set  her 
on  fire,  and  made  sail  to  take  a  station  nearer  Cape  Race, 
where  we  continued  cruizing  until  the  morning  of  the  15th, 
at  day-light;  when  five  sail  were  in  sight  a-head  of  us,  appa- 
rently a  small  convoy.  I  gave  chase  u  sail, 
and  soon  found  that  we  gained  on  them  very  fast,  and  disco- 
vered that  on^,  of  them  was  a  ship  of  war;  at  sunrise  they 
tacked,  and  stood  on  the  same  tack  with  us.  13  ;  time 
we  could  plainly  discover  that  the  ship  of  war  had  a  brig  in 
tow.  At  6,  coming  up  very  fast  with  the  ship,  and  could 
see  that  she  had  cast  off  the  brig  that  she  had  in  tow,  and 
had  set  her  on  fire,  and  had  ordered  a  second  brig  to  pt 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

before  the  wind  to  separate  them.  The  ship  of  war  making 
sail  to  windward,  I  gave  chase  to  a  ship  which,  appeared  to 
be  under  her  convoy ;  but  when  we  came  up  with  her,  she 
proved  to  be  a  British  ship,  prize  to  the  Dolphin  privateer, 
of  Salem.  She  had  been  spoken  by  the  ship  of  war,  but  we 
^ame  up  with  them  before  they  had  time  to  put  men  on 
board  and  take  charge  of  her.  Whilst  our  boats  were  board- 
ing this  vessel,  the  ship  of  war  had  got  nearly  hull  down  from 
us ;  and  understanding  from  one  of  the  prisoners  that  she 
was  a  very  fast  sailer,  I  found  it  would  not  be  possible  to 
come  up  with  her  before  night,  or  perhaps  not  then ;  I  there- 
fore gave  chase  to  the  brig  that  run  before  the  wind,  deter- 
mined to  destroy  all  his  convoy!  we  soon  found  we  came 
fast  up  with  the  brig,  and  that  they  were  making  every  ex- 
ertion to*  get  off  by  throwing  overboard  all  the  lumber,  water 
casks,  &c. 

At.  2  P.  M.  we  brought  to  the  chase,  and  found  her  to 
be  the  American  brig  Adeline,  from  Liverpool,  loaded  with 
dry  goods,  &c.  took  the  prize-master  and  crew  out,  and  put 
midshipman  Madison  and  crew  on  board,  with  orders  to  get 
in  the  nearest  port  she  could  make.  From  the  prize-master 
of  this  vessel  I  learnt  that  the  brig  burnt  by  the  sloop  of  war 
belonged  to  New- York,  and  was  loaded  with  hemp,  duck, 
&cc.  last  from  Jutland,  having  gone  in  there  in  distress. 

Having  chased  so  far  to  the  eastward  as  to  make  it  impos- 
sible to  come  up  with  the  sloop  of  war,  I  determined  to 
change  my  cruising  ground,  as  I  found  by  some  of  the  pri- 
soners that  came  from  this  vessel,  that  the  squadron  that 
chased  us  off  New-York  were  on  the  western  end  of  the 
Grand  Bank,  not  far  distant  from  me.  I  accordingly  stood, 
to  the  southward,  intending  to  pass  near  Bermuda,  and  cruise 
off  our  southern  coast.  Saw  nothing  till  the  night  of  the 
18th;  at  half  past  9  P.  M.  discovered  a  sail  very  near  us,  it 
being  dark  ;  made  sail  and  gave  chase,  and  could  see  that  she 
was  a  brig.  At  1 1  brought  her  to,  and  sent  a  boat  on  board, 
found  her  to  be  the  American  privateer  Decatur,  belonging 
to  Salem,  with  a  crew  of  1O8  men,  and  14  guns,  12  of  which 
,  she  had  thrown  overboard  whilst  we  were  in  chase  of  her. 
The  captain  came  on  board,  and  informed  me  that  he  saw 
the  day  before  a  ship  of  war  standing  to  the  southward,  and 
that  she  could  not  be  far  from  us ;  at  12  P.  M.  made  sail  to 
the  southward,  intending,  if  possible,  to  fall  in  with  her. 
The  privateer  stood  in  for  Cape  Race,  intending  to  cruise 
•  e,  and  take  ships  by  boarding,  as  he  had  lost  all  his  guns 
but  two.  The  above  is  a  memor.-uKl'Ttn  of  v.'hat  took  place 


7GJ  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

on  board  the  Constitution,  under  my   command,  from  the 
time  we  left  Boston  up  to  the  18th  instant,  which  I  hop 
meet  your  approbation.     I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great 
respect,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

ISAAC  HULL. 

The  Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secret ary 
of  the  Navy,  Washington  Cilij. 


AMERICAN  AND  BRITISH  ACCOUNTS' .OF  THE  CAPTURI;    & 
DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  GUEKRILRE. 

United  States'  Frigate  Constitution,  off  Boston  Light, 

August  30,   1812. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  on  the  19th  in- 
stant, at  2  P.  M.  being  in  latitude  41°  41',  and  longitude 
55°  48',  with  the  Constitution  under  my  command,  a  sail 
was  discovered  from  the  mast-head,  bearing  E.  by  S.  or  E. 
S.  E.,  but  at  such  a  distance  we  could  not  tell  what  she  was. 
All  sail  was  instantly  made  in  chase,  and  soon  found  we  came 
up  with  her.  At  3  P.  M/ could  plainly  see  that  she  was.  a 
ship  on  the  starboard  tack  under  easy  sail,-  close  on  a  wind — 
at  half  past  3  P.  M.  made  her  out  to  be  a  frigate — conti- 
nued the  chase  until  we  were  within  about  three  miles,  when 
I  ordered  the  light  sails  taken  in,  the  courses  hauled  up,  ;. 
the  ship  cleai-ed  for  action.  At  this  time  the  chase  had 
backed  her  main  topsail,  waiting  for  us  to  come  down.  As 
soon  as  the  Constitution  was  ready  for  action,  I  bore  down. 
with  an  intention  to  bring  him  to  close  action  immediately ; 
but  on  our  coming  within  gun  shot,  she  gave  us  a  broadside, 
and  filled  away,  and  wore,  giving  us  a  broadside  on  the  other 
tack,  but  without  effect,  her  shot  falling  short.  She  conti- 
nued wearing  and  manoeuvring  for  about  three  quarters  of  an 
hour,  to  get  a  raking  position — but  finding  she  could  not, 
she  bore  up  and  run  under  her  topsails  and  jib,  with  the 
wind  on  the  quarter.  I  immediately  made  sail  to  bring  the 
up  with  her,  and  five  minutes  before  6  P.  M.  being 
along  side  within  half  pistol  shot,  we  commenced  a  heavy 
fire  from  all  our  guns,  double-shotted  with- round  and  grape, 
and  so  well  directed  were  they,  and  so  warmly  kept  up,  that 
in  16  minutes  her  mizen-mast  went  by  the  board,  and  his 
main-yard  in  the  slings,  and  the  hull,  rigging,  and  sails  very 
much  torn  to  The  fire  was  kept  up  with  equal  warmth 

for  15  minutes*  longer,   v  .mast   nnd.   foremast 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [77 

went,  taking  with  them  every  spar,  excepting  the  bowsprit; 
on  seeing  this  we  ceased  firing ;  so  that  in  thirty  minutes  af- 
ter we  got  fairly  alongside  the  enemy,  she  surrendered,  and 
had  not  a  spar  standing,  and  her  hull  below  and  above  water 
so  shattered,  that  a  few  more  broadsides  must  have  carried 
her  down. 

After  informing  that  so  fine  a  ship  as  the  Guerriere,  com- 
manded by  an  able  and  experienced  officer,  had  been  totally 
dismasted  and  otherwise  cut  to  pieces,  so  as  to  make  her  not 
worth  towing  into  port,  in  the  short  space  of  30  minutes, 
you  can  have  no  doubt  of  the  gallantry  and  good  'conduct  of 
the  officers  and  ship's  company  I  have  the  honour  to  com- 
mand. It  onlv  remains,  therefore,  for  me  to  assure  you,  that 
they  all  fought  with  great  bravery ;  and  it  gives  me  great 
pleasure  to  say,  that  from  the  smallest  boy  in  the  ship,  to  the 
oldest  seaman,  not  a  look  of  fear  was  seen.  They  all  went 
into  action  giving  three  cheers,  and  requesting  to  be  laid 
cl-se  alongside  the  enemy. 

Enclosed  I  have  the  honour  to  send  you  a  list  of  killed 
and  wounded  on  board  the  Constitution,  and  a  report  of  the 
damages  she  sustained — also  a  list  of  killed  and  wounded  on 
board  the  enemy,  with  his  quarter  bill,  &c.  I  have  the  ho- 
nour to  be,  with  very  great  respect,  sir,  your  obedient  ser- 
vant, ISAAC  HULL. 
Honourable  Paul  Hamilton,  &c.  &c. 

'eturn  of  killed  and  rvoitnded  on  board  the  United  States'*  Fri- 
gate Constitution,  Isaac  Hull,  Esq.  Captain,  in  the  action  with 
H.  M.  S.  Guerriere,  J.  R.  Dacres,  Eiq.  Captain,  on  the 
ZQth  day  of  August,  1 8 1 2. 

Killed — William  S.  Bush,  first  lieutenant  of  marines  : 
Jacob  Sago,  seaman;  Robert  Brice,  do.;  John  Brown,  do. ; 
j"ames  Read,  do.;  Caleb  S:  Ash  ford,  do 

Wounded — Charles  Morris,  first  lieutenant,  dangerously ; 
John  G.  Alwin,  master,  slightly  ;  Richard  Dunn,  seaman, 
dangerously;  George  Reynolds,  ordinary  sraman,  danger- 
ously; Daniel  Lewis,  do, ;  dangerously;  Owen  Taylor,  do. 
do.  ;  Francis  Mullen,  marine,  • 

Recapitulation- — Killed,  one  lieutenant  of  marines,  and  six 
seamen — Total  killed,  seven. 

Wounded — Two  officers,  four  seamen,  and  one  marine.-— 
Total  wounded,  seven. 

List  of  the  kitted  and  wounded  on  boar-dike  Guerriere. 
Wounded — James  R.  Dacrc ; .  captain  ;  Bartholomew  Kent, 
lieutenant;  Robert  S<  .    Samuel  Grant,  masterV 

...  i.  PA;".  rMl 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 


mate;  Jnmes  Enslie,  midshipman;  John  Little,  seaman; 
James  Miller,  ordinary  seaman  ;  Hmn  Verderie,  do.  ;  Hugh 
M'Kinlcv,  do. ;  James  Morris,  s  aman  ;  T.  Harrington,  ar- 
mourer; William  Mee,  armourer's  mate  ;  Pett  r  St<  mpstead, 
ordinary  seaman  ;  Pettr  P<  terson,  do. ;  Ralph  Williams,  (; 
Henrv  Holt,  do. ;  William  Somers,  do.  ;  William  Wellington, 
do.;  Patrick  Murphy,  quarter  gunner ;  J.Cromwell,  quar- 
termaster ;  Mat.  Reardon,  ordinary  seaman  ;  John  Campbell, 
do. ;  John  Southgate,  do. ;  Henry  Dent,  do. ;  Stephen  Kelly, 
hoy ;  John  O'Hare,  ordinary  seaman ;  Philip  Dwyer,  do. ; 
J  Smith,  third  seaman  ;  K.  M' Donald,  do. ;  Alexander  Fer- 
guson, ordinary  seaman  ;  George  Meathcrs,  seaman  ;  James 
Crooker,  do  ;  David  Lewis,  ordinary  seaman  ;  John  Hibbs, 
do. ;  Joseph  Lushwood,  do. ;  Robert  Taylor,  do. ;  George 
Read,  seaman  ;  William  Jones,  ordinary  seaman  ;  D.  M'Me- 
chen,  carpenter's  crew  ;  William  Cooper,  seaman  ;  Lawrence, 
Norman,  do. ;  G  Emmerson,  sail-maker;  J.  Jameson,  sea- 
man ;  William  Hall,  do. ;  John  Bruntlot,  do. ;  J.  Sholer, 
boatswain's  mate;  R.  Biilv,  first- do. ;  J.  Copeland,  seaman; 
Samuel  Miller,  do. ;  Roger  Spry,  marine  ;  John  Fake,  do. ; 
Melchis  Archer,  do.  ;  John  Goss,  do. ;  Edward  Dakhig, 
do. ;  William  Cooper,  do. ;  Samuel  Long,  do. ;  Thomas 
Chambers,  do.;  Joseph  Fountain,  do  ;  William  Ryan,  do.; 
Thomas  Couther,  do. ;  John  Robinson,  do. ;  William  Jones, 
ditto. 

Killed — H  Ready,  second  lieutenant;  J  Smith,  second 
gunner's  mate;  G.  Griffiths,  quarter  gunner;  J-  Tuck,  or- 
dinary seaman  ;  William  Baker,  do. ;  Alexander  Cowie,  sea- 
man ;  Richard  Chusman,  landsman  ;' William  White,  sea- 
man ;  Henry  Brown,  ordinary  seaman  ;  Robert  Rodgers, 
.nan ;  John  Peterson,  do. ;  William  Brown,  second  do. ; 
J.  A.  Fox,  sergeant  of  marines  ;  J.  Wodcock,  marine  ;  T. 
Pratt,  do. 

nig — James  John  ses  Virgin,   Benjamin  Hin- 

worth,  James  Greenwood,  William  Cole,  James  Johnson, 
third,  corporal  W< .!:•!%  marine;  John  Griswdl,  J.  M'Gill, 
James  Batterwitch,  William  Raysclon,  William  Hammock, 
Rol  \voft,  A.  Joaquin,  Joh;  ' .  ".unit  j. 

Pu!:  r.  Garton,  John  Newman,  -'."inn,  James 

Guy,  Robert  Scott,  lieutenant  Robeivs,  John  Fiavitt,  John 
Hosey. 

•/•  18,  1813. 

Sjr.  .id  the  honour  to  receive  your  letter  of  the  9th 

;nt,  and  have  read  it  publich  to  the  ship's  company. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [79 

1  now  have  the  honour  of  forwarding  to  you  the  name  of 
the  man  who  lost  his  leg  in  the  action  ;  and  shall  take  the  first 
moment's  leisure  I  have  to  carry  that  part  of  your  orders  into 
execution,  directing  nv  to  make  a  present  .to  the  brave  fellow 
who  lashed  the  flag  to  the  topmast  head. 

The  name  of  the  man  that  got  his  leg  shot  off  is  Richard 
Dunn,  he  was  born  near  West  Chester,  Pennsylvania,  he  was 
rated  seaman  on  the  books.  I  have  collected  for  him  one 
thousand  dollars,  which  I  intend  putting  into  funds  that  will 
give  him  the  interest  quarterly.  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
with  great  respect,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  ISAAC  HULL. 

The  Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

From  the  London  Gazette. 

Admiralty  Office,  October  10. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Vice-  Admiral  Sawyer,  to  John  Wilson 
Croker,  Esq,  dated  on  board  His  Majesty's  Ship  Africa,  at 
Halifax,  the  1 5th  Sept.  1812. 

Sir,  It  is  with  extreme  concern  I  have  to  request  you  will 
be  pleased  to  lay  before  the  lords  commissioners  of  the  ad- 
miralty, the  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter  from  captain  Dums, 
of  his  majesty's  late  ship  Guerriere,  giving  an  account  of  his 
having  sustained  a  close  action  of  n>  ar  two  hours,  on  the 
1 9th  ultimo,  with  the  American  frigate  Constitution,  of  very 
superior  force,  both  in  guns,  and  men  (of  the  latter  almost 
double),  when  the  Guerriere  being  totally  dismasted,  she  rol- 
led so  deep  as  to  render  all  further  efforts  at  the  guns  unavail- 
ing, and  it  become  a  duty  to  sp'ire  the  lives  of  the  remaining 
part  of  her  valuable  crew,  by  hauling  down  her  colours.  The 
masts  fell  over  the  side  from  which  she  was  a!>out  to  be  en- 
gaged, in  a  very  favourable  position  for  raking  by  the  enemy. 
A  few  hours  after  she  was  in  possession  of  the  enemy,  it 
was  found  impossible  to  keep  her  above  water ;  she  was  there- 
fore set  fire  to  and  abandoned,  which  I  hope  will  satisfy  their 
lordships  she  was  defended  to  the  last.  I  have  the  honour  to 
be,  &c. 

(Signed)  H.  SAWYER,   Vice- Admiral 

Bo.itc'i,  S-'pt.  7, -1812. 

Sir,  I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  of  the  capture  of  his  majes- 
ty's late  ship  Guerriere,  by  the  American  frigate  Constitu- 


HISTORICAL  REGTSTKR. 

tion,  after  a  severe  action  on  the  19th  August,  in  latitude  40° 
20',  N.,  and  longitude  55°  W.     At  2   P.'iW.,  b  'he 

wind  on  the  starboard  tack,  we  saw  a  sail  on  our 
beam,  bearing  down  on  us.  At  3  made  her  out  to  h 
man  of  war,  beat  to  quarters  and  prepared  for  action  At 
4,  she  closing  fast,  wore  to  prevent  her  raking  us.  A,  10 
minutes  past  4,  hoisted  our  colours  and  fired  several  shot  at 
her;  at  20  minutes  past  4,  she  hoisted  her  colours  and 
turned  our  fire,  wore  several  times  to  avoid  being  raked,  ex- 
changing broadsides.  At  5  she  closed  on  our  starboard 
beam,  both  keeping  up  a  heavy  fire  and  steering  free,  his  in- 
tention being  evidently  to  cross  our  bow.  At  20  minutes 
past  5,  our  miztrn-mast  went  over  the  starboard  quarter,  and 
brought  the  ship  up  in  the  wind  ;  the  enemy  then  placed  him- 
self on  our  larboard  bow,  raking  us,  a  few  only  of  our  bow 
guns  bearing,  and  his  grape  and  riflemen  sweeping  our  d- 
At  40  minutes  past  5,  the  ship  not  answering  her  helm,  he 
attempted  to  lay  us  on  board;  at  this  time  Mr.  Grant,  who 
commanded  the  forecastle,  was  carried  below  badly  wound- 
ed. 1  immediately  ordered,  .the  marines  and  boarders  from 
the  main  deck  ;  the  master  was  at  this  time  shot  through  the 
knee,  and  I  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  back.  Lieute- 
nant King  was  leading  the  boarders,  when  the  ship  coming 
to,  we  brought  some  of  our  how  guns  to  bear  on  her,  and 
had  got  clear  of  our  opponent,  when  at  20  minutes  past  G, 
our  fore  and  mainmast  went  over  the  side,  leaving  the  ship  a 
perfect  unmanageable  wreck.  The  frigate  shooting  ahead  I 
was  in  hopes  to  clear  the  wreck,  and  get  the  ship  under  com- 
mand to  renew  the  action,  but  just  r.s  we  had  cleared  the 
v.-reck,  our  sprits-iil  yard  went,  and  the  enemy  having  rove 
new  braces,  &c.  wore  round  within  pistol  shot,  to  rake  us,  the 
ship  lying  in  the  trough  of  the  sea,  and  rolling  her  main  deck 
guns  under  water,  and  all  attempts  to  raise  her  before-  the 
wind  being  fruitless,  when  calling  my  few  remaining  ofii 
together,  they  were  all  of  opinion  that  any  further  resistance 
would  only  be  a  needless  waste  of  lives,  I  ordered,  though 
reluctantly,  the  colours  to  be  str 

The  loss  of  the  ship  is  to  be  ascribed  to  the  early  fall  <  ; 
her  migtn  mast,  which  enabled  our  opponent  to  choose  his 
position.  I  am  sorry  to  say,  we  suffered  considerably  in 
killed  and  wounded,  and  mostly  while  she  lay  on  our  bow, 
from  her  grape  .and  musquetry ;  in  all,  15  killed,  and  63 
wounded,  many  oi"  them  severely  ;  none  of  the  wounded  offi- 
cers quitted  the  deck  until  the  firing  cc:- (  d. 

The  fri-r.e  proved  to  be  the  United  States'  ship  Cor.-- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  (si 

lion,  of  thirty  24  pounders  on  her  m-.v-  and  twenty- 

four  32  pounders,   arid  two  18s  on  her  i-  MIC!  476 

men  :  her  loss  in  comparison  with  us  is  trifling^  about  20  :  the 
first  lieutenant  of  marines  and  8  killed;  and  first  lieutenant 
and  master  of  the  ship  and  11  men  wounded;  her  lower 
masts  badly  wounded  and  stern  much  shattered,  and  very- 
much  cut  up  about  the  rigging. 

The  Guerriere  was  so  cut  up,  that  all  attempts  to  get  her 
in  would  have  been  useless  As  soon  ag  the  wounded  were 
got  out  of  her,  they  set  her  on  fire  ;  and  I  feel  it  mv  duty  to 
state,  that  the  conduct  of  captain  Hull  and  his'officers  10  our 
men,  has  been  that  of  a  brave  enemy,  the  greatest  care  be. 
taken  to  prevent  our  men  losing  the  smallest  trifle,  and  the 
greatest  attention  being  paid  to  the  wounded,  who,  through 
the  attention  and  skill  of  Mr.  Irvine,  surgeon,  I  hope  will 
do  well. 

I  hope,  though  success  has  not  crowned  our  efforts,  you 
will  not  think  it  presumptuous  in  me  to  say,  the  greatest  cre- 
dit is  due  to  the  officers  and  ship's  company  for  their  exer- 
tions, particularly  when  exposed  to  the  heavy  raking  fire  of 
the  enemy.  I  feel  particularly  ohlig1  d  for  the  exertions  of 
lieutenant  Kent,  who,  though  wounded  e'arly  by  a  splhr 
continued  to  assist  me — in  the  second  lieutenant  the  service 
has  suffered  a  severe  loss;  Mr.  S  ott,  the  master,  tho 
•wounded,  was  particularly  attentive,  and  used  every  '  x.:  rtion 
in  clearing  the  wreck,  as  did  the  warrant  ofrux-rs.  Lieute- 
nant Nicholi  of  the  royal  marines,  and  his  party,  supported 
the  honourable  character  of  their  corps,  and  they  suffered  se- 
verely. I  must  recommend  Mr.  Shaw,  the  master's  mate, 
who  command-  d  the  foremast  nv.in  deck  guns  in  the  absence 
of  lieutenant  Pullman,  and  the  whole  after  the  fall  of  lieu'e- 
nant  Ready,  to  your  protection  he  having  received  a  severe: 
contusion  from  a  splinter.  I  must  point  out  Mr.  Garby,  act- 
ing purser,  to  your  notice,  who  volunteered  his  services  on 
deck,  and  commanded  the  after  quarter  deck  guns,  and 
particularly  active,  as  well  as  Mr.  Bannister,  midshipman. 
I  hope  in  considering  the  circumstances,  you  will  think  the 
ship  entrusted  xo-niy:  charge  prop-,  rly  defend- d — the  unfor- 
tunate loss  of  our  masts,  the  absence  of  the  third  lieutenant, 
second  lieutenant  of  marines,  time  midshipmen,  and  24  men, 
considerably  weakened  our  crew,  and  we  onh  mustered  at 
quarters  244  men,  and  19  boys,  on  coming  into  action;  the 
enemy  had  such  an  advantage  from  his  marines  and  riflemen, 
when  close,  and  his  superior  sailing,  enabled  him  to  civ 
V,s  distance. 


82j  HISTORICAL  l\i  K. 

I  enclose  herewith  a  list  of  killed  nnd  wounded  on  boari 
the  Guerriere.     And  have  the  honour  to  he,  Sec. 

JAMES  DACRES. 

A  List  of  Officers^  Seamen, and  Marine*  Killed  and  Wonnda. 

board  Hi*  Majesty**  Ship  Gnerriere,  in   the  action  of  the 

Wt/i  of  August,   1812. 

Killed — Henry  Ready,  second  lieutenant,  and  14  seamen. 

Wounded — James  S.  Dacres,   Esq.  captain,  severely  ;  Bar- 
tholomew Kent,  first  lieutenant,  slightly,  and  61  seamen. 


CRUIZE    OF    THE    ESS: 

Copies  of  Letters  received  at  the  Navy  Department  from  Cap- 
tain Porter,  of  the  United  Slat;  v  Esse\\  of  2>-zGu)ia. 

At  Sea,  August  20,  1811. 

Sir.  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  on  the  13th  his 
Britannic  majest\  's  sloop  of  war  Alert,  captain  T.  L-  P.  Laugh- 
arne,  ran  down  on  our  weather  quarter,  gave  three  cheers  and 
commenced  an  action  (if  so  trifling  a  skirmish  deserves  the 
name),  and  after  eight  minutes  firing  struck  her  colours,  with 
seven  feet  water  in  her  hold,  much  cut  to  pieces,  and  three 
men  wounded. 

I  need  not  inform  vou  that  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Es- 
sex behaved  as  I  trust  all  Americans  will  in  such  cases,  arid 
it  is  only  to  be  regretted  that  so  much  zeal  and  activity  could 
not  have  been  displayed  on  an  occasion  that  would  have  done 
them  more  honour.  The  Essex  has  not  received  the  slight- 
est injury 

The  Alert  was  out  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  Hornet ! 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient 
servant, 

(Signed)  D.  PORTER. 

Hon    Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  t.'.  Washington. 

/m,  August  20,  1811. 

Sir,  finding  myself  much  emba'rrassed  by  the  Alert,  from 
the  great  number  of  prisoners  we  have  alreadv  made  (about 
5OO)  I  concluded  th  ;t  before  our  arrival  in  America  the 
number  would  be  considerably  augrm:ntt  d,  and  as  I  found 
my  provisions  and  xval  .ig  short,  and  being  well  satis- 

fied that  a  plan  had  been  organized  by  them  for  rising  on  the 


.      OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [83 

. 
,>  in  the  event  of  an  engagement;  I  conceived  it  to  be  the 

interest  of  my  country  to  get  clear  of  them  as  speedily 
as  possible,  particularly  as  I  was  well  assured  that  imme- 
diately cm  their  arrival  in  St.  John's,  an  equal  number 
of  my  countrymen  -would  br  released,  and  find  a  sure  and 
immediate  conveyance.  I,  therefore,  drew  up  written  sti- 
pulations corresponding  with  the  accompanying  letters  ; 
threw  all  the  guns  of  the  Alert  overboard  ;  withdrew  from 
her  all  the  men  belonging  to  the  Essex ;  appointed  lieute- 
nant J.  P.  VVilmer  to  command  her  as  a  cartel,  put  all  my 
prisoners  on  board  her,  and  dispatched  h<jr  for  St.  John's,  in 
Newfoundland,  with  orders  to  proceed  from  thence  to  New- 
York,  with  such  Americans  as  he  may  receive  in  exchange. 

At  a  more  suitable  opportunity  I  shall  do  myself  the  ho- 
nour to  lay  before  you  copies  of  every  paper  relative  to  this 
transaction,  and  sincerely  hope  that  my  conduct  in  this  affair 
may  meet  with  your  approbation. 

As  the  Essex  has  been  so  annoving  about  Bermuda,  Nova 
Scotia,  and  Newfoundland,  I  expect  I  shall  have  to  run  the 
gauntlet  through  their  cruisers;  you  may,  however,  rest  as- 
sured, that  all  a  ship  of  her  size  can  do  shall  be  clone,  and 
whatever  may  be  our  fate,  our  country  shall  never  blusn  for 
us.  I  have  the  honour,  &c. 

(Signed)  D.  PORTER. 

Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

[The  following  are  the  papers  accompanying  the  preced- 
ing, viz.  my  two  letters  to  captain  Laugharne,  with  his  an- 
swer, verbal  and  written,  to  the  first;  a  copy  of  the  passport 
given  to  lieutenant  Wilmer,  and  a  copy  of  captain  Laugh- 
arne's  certificate,  certifying  to  the  number  of  prisoners  put 
on  board  the  cartel  Alert.] 

August  18,  1812. 

Sir,  an  arrangement  has  suggested  itself  to  me,  which,  in 
rny  opinion,  is  calculated  to  advance  the  interest  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  as  well  as  that  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  and  if  ac- 
ceded to  by  you,  shall  be  immediately  put  in  execution : 
should  you  object  to  the  terms,  they  will  not,  after  this,  be 
repeated,  and  the  treatment  usual  to  prisoners  of  war,  w;I? 

rved  to\varcls  your  crew. 

Art.  1.  The  Alert' to  be  deprived  of  all  her  armament,  and 
to  proceed  under  charge  of  an  officer  of  this  ship,   as  a  car- 
tel, to  such  British  port  as  you  may  deem  most  adviseable,  and 
:  !:e  your  oificers  and  crew,  together  with  the  British  cap- 


84]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

tains  and  mates  of  merchant  vessels,  with  their  crews,  novV 
prisoners  on  hoard  this  ship. 

Art  2.  The  officers  to  go  on  parole  of  honour,  not  to  serve 
against  the  United  States  of  America  during  the  existing 
war,  until  regularly  exchanged.  1  he  captains  and  mates  of 
merchant  vessels,  and  their  crews,  as  well  as  the  petty  offi- 
cers, seamen,  marines,  landsmen  and  hoys,  composing  your 
crew,  to  be  exchanged  immediately  on  their  arrival  in  a  Bri- 
tish port,  for  an  equal  number  of  equal  grades  of  American 
prisoners,  and  are  not  to  serve  against  the  United  States  un- 
til the  exchange  takes  place. 

Art.  3.  The  swords  of  the  officers  to  he  returned  to  them. 

Art.  4.  You  to  remain  as  a  pledge  for  the  faithful  fulfil- 
ment of  the  foregoing  articles.  I  have  the  honour  to  he,  &c. 

(Signed)  D.  PORTER. 

Capt-  T.  P.  Laugharne,  late  Commander  of 

H'  B.  M's.  Shop  of  War  Alert,  present. 

After  delivering  the  preceding  letter  to  captain  Laugharne, 
he  verbalh  informed  me  "that  his  officers  preferred  remain- 
ing with  him,  and  sharing  his  fate,  and  as  he  was  confident 
some  of  his  ship's  company  were  much  prejudiced  against 
him,  he  did  not  wish  them  to  go  to  Newfoundland,  until  he 
could  be  present  to  appear  in  his  own  justification,  before 
they  could  have  an  opportunity  of  injuring  his  honour  and 
reputation  as  an  officer,  both  of  which  he  held  as  inestima- 
ble, and  as  a  court  martial  could  not  take  place  in  his  ab- 
sence." He  then  wrote  me  the  following  letter : 

August  18,   1812. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
vr  of  this  cla\  's  ch.  ,;g  an  ammgement  ior  the  offi- 

ancl  crew  of  his  majesty's  late  sloop  Alert. 
In  answer  thereto,  I  beg  leave  to  inform  you  that  I  accept 
and  agree  to  the  first,  second,  and  third  articles,  but  permit 
rae  to  mention  my  objection  to  the  last,  as  it  seems  by  your 
liring  me  to  remain  a.s  an  hostage  for  the  performance  o- 
the  preceding  one;;,  to  cast   (though  I  am  willing  to   believe 
.tentionallv)  an  indirect  suspicion  on  the  faith  ot  the  Bri- 
tish government,  so  universally  known  for   its  fulfilment   ot 
every  compact  entered  into  by  its  public  servants. 

By  your  allowing  me  to  accompany  my  ship's  company 
and  officers,  I  \v511  pK-dge  to  \ou  mine  honour  to  see  the  ar- 

s  of  our  relc;  complied  with  on  our  arrival  i'. 

British  port. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [85 

Should  vou  object  to  this,  my  officers  prefer  remaining 
with  me  till  we  are  regularly  exchanged.  I  have  the  honour 
to  be,  &c.  - 

(Signed)  T.  L.  P.  LAUGHARNE, 

Late  Commander  of  his  M'$.  Sloop  Alert. 
Capt.  D.  Porter ',  United  States'  Frigate  Evst\\: 

August  18,  1812. 

Sir,  in  reply  to  one  paragraph  in  your  letter  in  answer  to 
the  terms  offered  by  me  I  shall  observe  that,  having  on  two 
former  instances  permitted  cartels  to  proceed  to  British  ports 
without  reserving  hostages,  I  have  sufficiently  evinced  that  I 
entertained  the  highest  confidence  in  the  honour  and  faith  of 
the  British  government  as  respects  the  fulfilment  of  compacts 
entered  into  by  their  officers  ;  nor  should  I  have  proposed 
the  last  article  in  this  instance,  were  it  not  that  I  felt  a  neces- 
sity for  holding  some  pledge  as  a  justification  of  my  conduct 
to  my  own  government  for  the  unlimited  confidence  I  have 
reposed.  For  the  reasons,  however,  which  you  have  stated, 
I  am  willing  to  yield  that  condition  ;  and  you  may  consider 
yourself  at  liberty  to  proceed  with  your  officers  and  crew, 
and  on  the  same  terms.  I  have  the  honour,  &c. 

(Signed)  D.  PORTER. 

Capt.  T.  L.  P.  Laugharne,  late  Commander  of 

hits  B.  M's.  Sloop  of  War  Alert,  present. 

[Here  follow  copies  of  the  agreement,  passport,  8cc.  raid  a 
list  of  the  prisoners.] 

At  Sea,  September  1,   1812. 

Sir,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  30th  August,  in  latitude  36° 
N.  longitude  62°  W.  discovered  one  of  the  enemy's  frig; 
standing  towards  us  under  a  press  of  sail,  apparently  with  an 
intention  of  speaking  us.  Stood  for  him  under  er.ay  sail, 
with  the  ship  prepared  for  action ;  apprehensive  that  he 
might  not  find  us  in  the  night,  I  hoisted  a  light.  At  9  he 
made  a  signal,  consisting  of  two  flashes  and  one  blue  light, 
apparently  about  four  miles' distance  from  us.  I  continued 
to  stand  on  for  the  point  where  they  were  seen  until  mid- 
night, when  not  getting  sight  of  the  enemy,  I  concluded  it 
would  be  best  to  heave  to  for  him  until  day-light,  presuming 
that  he  had  done  the  same,  or  that  he  would  at  least  have- 
kept  in  our  neighbourhood ;  but  to  my  great  surprise  and  the 
mortification  of  my  officers  and  crew  (whose  zeal  on  every 
occasion  excites  my  admiration),  we  discovered  in  the  morn- 
•ng  that  the  bird  had  flown  !  From  the  latitude  an  I  ; 
II. 


8GJ  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

in  which  we  saw  this  vessel,  and  from  her  fleetness,  which 
enabled  her  to  disappear  so  soon,  I  think  it  not  unlikely  that 
it  was  the  Acasta,  of  50  guns  and  350  men,  senl  out  with  so 
much  parade,  accompanied  by  the  Ring  Dove  of  22  guns,  to 
cruize  for  the  Essex !  Perhaps,  however,  she  went  to  seek 
her  consort. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient 
servant, 

D.  PORTER. 
Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

At  Sea,  September  6,  1812. 

Sir,  on  the  4th  instant,  off  the  tail  of  St.  George's  Bank, 
I  discovered  two  ships  of  war  to  the  southward,  and  a  brig 
to  the  northward — the  brig  in  chase  of  an  American  mer- 
chant ship,  and  I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt  of  their  being 
enemies — gave  chase  to  the  brig,  which  attempted  to  get  past 
us  to  join  the  rest  of  the  squadron ;  this  we  prevented  and 
compelled  her  to  stand  to  the  northward  ;  continued  in  chase 
until  we  got  abreast  the  American  ship,  when  we  gave  over 
chase,  as  the  wind  was  getting  light,  and  the  brig  leaving  us 
with  her  sweeps  out.  On  showing  our  colours  to  the  Ameri- 
can ship,  several  signal  guns  were  fired  by  the  ships  to  the 
southward,  which  made  all  sail  in  chase  of  us.  At  4  P.  M. 
they  had  gained  our  wake  and  had  come  up  with  us  very  fast. 
Calculating  on  making  my  escape  by  some  manoeuvre  in  the  • 
course  of  the  night,  I  hoisted  American  colours  and  fired  a 
gun  to  windward ;  the  ships  still  continuing  to  gain  on  us, 
and  the  largest  being  considerably  to  windward  of  the  other 
and  about  five  miles  astern  of  us,  bearing  S.  by  W.  I  deter- 
mined to  heave  about  as  soon  as  it  grew  dark,  and  in  the 
event  of  our  not  being  able  to  pass  him,  to  fire  a  broadsicl; 
into  him  and  lay  him  on  board.  With  this  view,  made  every 
arrangement  and  preparation,  the  crew  in  high  spirits,  and 
gave  three  cheers  when  the  plan  was  proposed  to  them.  At 
20  minutes  after  seven,  hove  about  and  stood  S.  E.  by  S. 
(the  wind  heading  us  off  the  moment  we  hove  in  stays)  until 
30  minutes  after  eight,  when  we  bore  away  S.  W.  without 
seeing  any  thing  more  of  them,  which  seems  the  more  ex- 
traordinary, as  a  pistol  was  fired  by  accident  on  board  this 
hip  at  the  moment  when  we  must  have  been  at  our  shortest 
distance  from  them.  Finding  myself  thus  cut  off  from  New- 
York  and  Rhode  Island,  I  made  the  best  of  my  way  for  th  ^  ' 
Delaware. 

Considering  this  escape  as  a  very  extraordinary  one,  I  have 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [87 

the  honour  to  enclose  you  a  sketch  of  the  position  of  the 
ships  at  three  different  periods,  by  which  you  will  perceive 
at  once  the  plan  of  effecting  it.  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  PORTER. 
Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Mouth  of  the  Delaware,  Sept.  7,  1812. 

Sir,  in  pursuance  of  your  orders  of  the  24th  June,  I  sailed 
from  Sandy  Hook  on  the  3d  July,  shaping  my  course  to  the 
southward ;  in  the  lat.  of  30°  52'  N.  tong.  66°  16'  W.  I  cap- 
tured the  brig  Lamprey,  21  days  from  Jamaica;  by  her  I  re- 
ceived certain  intelligence  that  at  the  time  of  her  departure 
the  Thetis  frigate  with  specie  and  a  large  convoy  for  England 
was  to  sail  on  or  about  the  26th  of  June,  and  that  several 
running  ships  were  on  the  departure.  I  consequently  made 
every  exertion  to  get  off  St.  Augustine  in  time  to  fall  in  with 
them,  without  effect,  as  fresh  gales  prevailed  from  the  south- 
west and  increased  until  the  19th  July,  when  we  were  com- 
pelled to  scud.  I  succeeded  in  getting  as  far  south  as  St. 
Augustine,  but  was  baffled  in  every  attempt  to  get  to  the  west- 
ward ;  as  the  gales  continued  to  increase,  and  as  there  was 
no  probability  of  getting  there  in  time  to  meet  the  convoy, 
I  concluded  it  best  to  endeavour  to  intercept  it  on  the  banks 
of  Newfoundland,  to  which  place  I  proceeded,  taking  Hali- 
fax in  my  way,  and  although  I  have  been  disappointed  in  my 
expectations,  I  hope  that  the  facts  above  stated,  and  the  ser- 
vices rendered  by  the  Essex  may  be  considered  a  sufficient 
apology  for  departing  from  the  letter  of  your  instructions. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  I  had  not  with  me  a  sloop 
of  war  at  the  time  I  fell  in  with  the  convoy  of  the  Minerva, 
(as  well  as  on  all  other  important  occasions)  that  the  ships 
of  the  convoy  might  be  kept  in  play  while  I  engaged  the  fri- 
gate. Had  this  been  the  'case,  instead  of  taking  only  200 
prisoners,  including  the  transport's  crew,  I  have  not  a  doubt 
that  we  should  have  made  prisoners  of  the  whole  of  the 
troops,  as  well  as  the  frigates  and  transports'  crews,  which 
would  have  exceeded  2000  men.  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
with  great  respect,  &c. 

D.  PORTER. 
Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy* 


«8]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 


,7/,7- 


Copyofa  Letter  from  Admiral  Sir  J '.  T.  Duckivorth, command- 
ing his  Britannic  Majesty's  Naval  Fcrcrs  fit  Newfoundland, 
to  D.  Porter,  Exq.  comma;  i'_  /;.  /'.-• 

'•:t.  Joints,  -'ndumrl,  Aitg,  5,  1812. 

Sir,  your  letter  of  the  2d  instant  was  di  Iiveri-d  to  nv. 
terdav  by  Mr.  M'Knight,  midshipman  of  the  United  States' 
frigate  Essex,  under  your  command. 

I  am  sensible  of-  the  good  disposition  you  have  evinced  to 
alleviate  the  distresses  of  war,  and  would  gladly  have  embraced 
your  proposal  for  an  exchange  of  the  prisoners  that  we  have 
respectively  made ;  but  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  at  the  present 
moment,  and  under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  case,  it 
is  not  in  my  power  to  do  so. 

In  the  first  place,  I  have  not  yet  received  those  instruc- 
tions from  my  government  which  I  considered  necessary  for 
the  guidance  of  my  conduct  in  respect  to  any  such  arrange- 
ment ;  and  in  the  next,  the  officer  whom  you  charged  with 
the  British  prisoners  has  only  delivered  to  me  a  list  of  their 
riames,  without  producing  any  of  their  persons,  acquainting 
me  that  they  had  taken  the  vessel  from  him,  and  put  into 
another  port  of  this  island. 

I  can  only  therefore  assure  you,  that  I  shall  report  the  mat- 
ter fully  to  his  majesty's  government,  transmitting  a  copy  of 
your  letter,  and  of  the  list  of  British  prisoners  by  which  it  is 
accompanied. 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  forwarding  to  Halifax  the  young 
gentleman  whom  you  sent  to  me  ;  an  opportunity  having  al- 
readv  or.  urn-d — And  I  have  written  to  the  commander  in 
chief  on  that  station,  requesting  that  he  will  endeavour  to 
provide  the  means  of  his  conveyance  to  the  United  States. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedi-em  humble 
servant, 

(Signed)  J.  T.  DUCKWORTH. 

To  Captain  Porter, 
Commandant  of  the  United  Stated  Frigate  the  Essex. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Admiral  Sir  J.  T.  Duckrvorth,  to 
the  Honourable  Secretary  of  the  Navy  of  the  United  States, 
dated 

St.  Joints,  Newfoundland,  August  31. 

A  vessel  captured,  as  the  Alert  has  been,  could  not  have 
been  vested  with  the  character  of  a  cartel,  until  she  had  en- 
tered a  port  of  the  nation  by  which  she  had  been  captured 
and  been  regularly  fitted  out  from  thence.  For  every  prize 
might  otherwise  be  provided  with  a  flag  of  truce,  and  propo- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [89 

>r  an  exchange  of  prisoners ;  and  rendered  thus  effectu- 
ally secure  against  the  possibility  of  re-capture  ;  while  the 
cruizing  ship  would  b<  .1  to  keep  at  sea  with  an  undi- 

minished  crev/ ;  the  cartels  being  always  navigable  by  the 
prisoners  of  war. 

Nevertheless,  I  am  willing  to  give  proof  at  once  of  my 
respect  for  the  liberality  with  which  the  captain  of  the  Essex 
has  acted,  in  more  than  one  instance,  towards  the  British 
subjects  who  have  fallen  into  his  hands  ;  of  the  sacred  obli- 
gation that  is  always  felt  to  fulfil  the  engagements  of  a  Bri- 
tish officer ;  and  of  my  confidence  in  the  disposition  of  his 
royal  highness  the  prince  regent  to  allay  the  violence  of  war, 
by  encouraging  a  reciprocation  of  that  courtesy  by  which  its 
pressure  upon  individuals  may  be  so  essentially  diminished. 

On  the  4th  of  this  month,  a  midshipman  of  the  Essex  ar- 
rived, and  presented  to  me  a  letter  from  his  captain,  propos- 
ing an  exchange  for  86  British  prisoners.  The  midshipman 
had  however  been  placed  alone  in  the  charge  of  one  of  the 
captured  vessels,  with  86  prisoners,  to  conduct  them  to  this 
port.  A  list  of  40  prisoners  of  the  same  description,  dis- 
posed of  in  the  same  manner,  has  been  sent  to  me  by  the 
commander  of  the  American  private  armed  schooner  the 
Rossie. 

It  is  incumbent  upon  me  to  protest  in  the  strongest  man- 
ner against  the  practice,  of  conducting  exchanges  upon  terms 
like  these;  and  to  signify  to  you  that  it  will  be  utterly  im- 
possible for  me  to  incur,  in  future,  the  responsibility  of  as- 
senting to  them. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  NAUTILUS. 

Halifax,  July  29t/i,  1812.  ' 
under  the  unpleasant  necessity  of  acquainting 
you  with  the  loss  of  the  United  States'  brig  Nautilus,  late 

«'er  my  command, 
sailed,  in  obedience  to  your  order  of  the  llth  instant,  on 
15th,  and  passed  Sandy  Hook  at  6  P.  M.  with  the  wind 
fresh  and  squally  at  N.  by  E.,  standing  E.  by  S.  At  4  A.  M. 
we  had  cleared  the  Hook  about  75  miles,  under  reefed  top- 
sails and  fore  course ;  at  quarter  past  four  discovered  five 
large  sails  about  two  points  before  our  weather  beam. — Im- 
mediately wore  ship,  turned  out  the  reefs,  and  made  all  sail 
the  vessel  would  bear.    The  ships  bore  up,  and  made  sail  in 


90]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

chase,  displaying  signals  which  were  not  understood,  and 
hoisted  American  colours.  I  also  hoisted  my  private  signal 
and  ensign,  which  not  being  answered,  continued  to  carry  a 
press  of  sail  to  the  westward. 

There  was  a  heavy  swell  from  the  northward,  and  it  was 
impossible  to  gain  the  wind  from  our  pursuers.  We  had  ma- 
ny times  to  take  in  sail  to  preserve  spars,  and  finally  carried 
away  our  topmast  steering-sail  boom,  which  was  immediately 
replaced.  It  was  soon  evident  that  they  were  drawing  up  with 
us.  Every  manoeuvre  in  trimming  ship  was  tried,  but  this 
not  having  the  desired  effect,  I  ordered  the  anchors  to  be  cut 
from  the  bows,  when  we  appeared  to  hold  way  with  them. 
At  9  the  wind  became  lighter,  and  the^  brig  laboured  exces- 
sively in  the  swell.  I  then  ordered  a  part  of  the  water  to  be 
started,  threw  over  her  lee  guns,  and  a  part  of  the  round 
shot.  She  was  instantly  relieved,  and  bore  her  canvas  with 
much  greater  ease.  The  wedges  were  then  driven  out  from 
the  masts,  and  the  standing  rigging  slackened  up.  At  10  the 
squadron  hoisted  French  colours,  and  we  saw  they  neared  us 
fast.  At  11  the  leading  ship  was  within  grape  distance,  but 
owing  to  the  construction  of  the  Nautilus,  she  can  fire  no  guns 
abaft. 

There  was  now  no  chance  of  escape'if  the  chasing  vessels 
were  enemies,  of  which  we  were  not  certain,  as  they  still 
kept  French  colours  flying.  At  12  the  leading  ship  was  within 
musket  shot,  when  I  destroyed  the  signals,  signal  books,  and 
the  despatches  with  which  I  was  entrusted. 

At  half  past  twelve  I  consulted  with  my  principal  officers, 
All  were  of  opinion  that  every  thing  had  been  done  to  pre- 
serve the  vessel,  and  that  no  hopes  of  escape  were  left.  I 
then  took  in.  studding-sails  and  light  sails,  trained  the  wea- 
ther guns  aft,  and  put  the  helm  a-lee.  The  chasing  ship  put 
her  helm  up,  hoisted  a  broad  pendant  and  English  colours, 
and  ranged  under  my  lee  quarter.  Unable  to  resist,  I  was 
compelled  to  strike  the  flag  of  the  United  States. 

I  have  been  particular  in  detailing  to  you,  sir,  circumstan- 
ces as  they  occurred,  in  order  to  prove  to  you  that  no  efforts 
were  wanting  to  effect  our  escape.  It  is  but  justice  to  my  of- 
ficers and  crew  to  add,  that  they  executed  my  orders  with 
promptness,  and  rendered  me  every  possible  assistance  ;  and 
I  feel  persuaded,  had  an  opportunity  offered  of  engaging  any 
thing  of  equal  force,  they  would  have  distinguished  them- 
selves. 

The  frigate  hoisted  out  her  boats  and  sent  for  me  on  board. 
She  proved  to  be  the  Shannon  of  38  guns,  commodore  Broke, 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

The  other  vessels  of  the  squadron  were,  Africa,  64  guns, 
captain  Bastard;  Guerriere,  38  guns,  captain  Dacres;  Belvi- 
dera,  36  guns,  captain  Byron;  -jEolus,  32  guns,  captain  k 

Townsend.  . 

My  officers  and  crew  were  sent  on  board  the  Africa, 
remained  with  the  Nautilus.    'She  treatment  I  received  from 
commodore  Broke  was  polite  and  gentlemanly.    \Ve  arrived 
here  last  evening.     If  it  is  not  improper,  I  beg  leave  to  re- 
quest your  interference  in  having  me  exchanged,  as  I 
nreat  unwillingness  to  remain  inactive  at  this  time. 
'  Very  respectfully,  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  obe 

dientSCrvant'  P.M.  CRANE. 

Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

"he  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  Lieutenant  Crane,  late  of  the 
Nautilus. 
Navy- Department,  7th  Oct.  1812. 

,ir,  the  following  is  the  opinion  of  the  court  of  enquiry 
evened  agreeably  to  your  request,  for  the  purpose  of  myes 
tigating   the  circumstances  of  the  loss  of  the  late 
States'  brig  Nautilus : 

"  The  court  were  unanimously  and  decidedly  ot  opinion, 
that  in  the  capture  of  the  late  United  States'  brig  Nautilus, 
lieutenant  Crane,  her  late  commander,  and  his  officers,  are 
entirely  free  from  the  least  blame  or  censure,  and  do  consi- 
der  lieutenant  Crane  did  every  thing  to  prevent  said  captu 
that  a  skilful  and  experienced  officer  could  possibly  do. 

This  opinion  of  the  court,  sir,  only  confirms  the  imprc 
sion  confidently  entertained  with  respect  to  your  conduct  on 
the  occasion  to  which  it  refers. 

I- have  the  honour  to  be,  respectfully,  sir,  your  obedient 
servant,  PAUL  HAMILTON, 

•'«?.  M.  Crane,  Esq.  of  the  Navy,  Boston. 


CRUIZE  OJJ  COMMODORE  RODGERS. 

cf  a  Letter  received  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  J 

Commodore  Rodgers. 

United  States'-  Frigate  President,  at  Sea,  Oct.  IT,  1812. 
Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you  that  on  the  15th 
instant,  .near  the  Grand  Bank,   this  ship,  the  Congress  i: 
nv,  enured  the  British  king's  packet  Swallow,  Joseph 


92]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Morphew   commander,  hound  from  Kingston,  Jamaica, 

ssel  is  that 

of  a  master  anjl  commander  in  the  navy.    She  had  no  cargc 
on  board  except  eighty-one  boxes  of  gold  and  silver,  amount- 
ing to  between  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  tv/o  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars.  The  specie  I  took  out  of  her,  ar.d  had  intended 
sending  her  to  England  in  the  character  of  a  cartel  with  her 
own  crew:    having  fallen  in  with   the  American  schooner 
Eleanor,  bound  from   Baltimore  to  France,  dismasted,   in- 
duced me  to  change  my  first  determination,  and  instead  of 
sending  her  to  England  I  have  sent  her  to  the  United  States 
in  charge  of  the  master  and  crew  of' the  before-mentu 
schooner,  who,  at  the  moment  of  writing  this,  have  charge  of 
the  Swallow-  with  the  schooner  in  tow,  but  whirii,  us  soc« 
the  weather  will  permit,  they  intend  abandoning,  after  having 
taken  her  cargo  on  board  the  Swallow-. 

I  parted  company  with  the  United  States  and  Argus  five 
days  since ;  they  are  not  however  far  from  me  at  present,  I 
apprehend. 

We  have  not  seen  a  single  British  vessel  of  war. as  yet,  ex- 
cept one  frigate,  which  the:  want  of  wind  and  the  approach  of 
night  prevented  our  chasing  with  any  effect ;  although  from 
information  afterwards  received  we  must  have  passed  very 
near  a  squadron  of  five  frigates  the  evening  preceding  that 
on  which  we  saw  the  one  before  mentioned. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect,  sir,  your 
obedient  servant, 

JOHN  RODGERS. 
Hon.  P.  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  ^ 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Rodger. s  to  the  Secretary 

of  the  Nfn-i./. 
At  Sea,  long.  32,  hit.  33,  Nov.  1,  1812. 

Sir,  I  wrote  you  on  the  18th  ultimo,  by  the  British  packet 
Swallow',  informing  you  of  having  captured  that  vessel  with 
between  an  hundred  and  fifty  and  two  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars on  board  ;  and  I  now  write  you  by  a  British  South  Sea 
ship,  loaded  with  oil,  captured  yesterday,  one  of  two  ships 
under  convoy  of  the  frigate  Galatea. 

The  above  ship  is  manned  from  the  Congress,  and  it  is 
now  blowing  so  fresh,  that  I  cannot  learn  from  captain  Smith 
her  name,  having  separated  from  him  yesterday  in  chase  of 
the  Galatea,  whilst  he  was  manning  the  prize,  and,  owing  to 
excessive  bad  weather  last  night,  was  unable  to  join  him  to- 
day. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [93 

I  got  within  six  or  seven  miles  of  the  Galatea  by  sunset, 
but  the  extreme  darkness  of  the  night  enabled  her  to  escape. 

With  the  greatest  respect,  &c. 

JOHN  RODGERS. 
Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


AMERICAN    AND    BRITISH    ACCOUNTS    OF    THE    CAPTURE 
OF    THE    FROLIC    AND    WASP. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Jones,  late  of  the  United  States 
Sloop  of  War  the  Wasp,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  dated 
New  York,  24>th  November,  1812. 

Sir,  I  here  avail  myself  of  the  first  opportunity  of  inform- 
ing you  of  the  occurrences  of  our  cruize,  which  terminated 
in  the  capture  of  the  Wasp  on  the  18th  of  October,  by  the 
Poictiers  of  seventy-four  guns,  while  a  wreck  from  the  da- 
mages received  in  an  engagement  with  the  British  sloop  of 
war  Frolic  of  twenty-two  guns;  sixteen  of  them  thirty-two 
pound  carronades,  and  four  twelve  pounders  on  the  main 
deck,  and  two  twelve  pounders,  carronades,  on  the  top-gal- 
lant-fore-castle, making  her  superior  to  us  by  four  twelve 
pounders.  The  Frolic  had  struck  to  us,  and  was  taken  pos- 
session of,  about  tvro  hours  before  our  surrendering  to  the 
Poictiers. 

We  had  left  the  Delaware  on  the  13th.  The  16th  had  a 
heavy  gale,  in  which  we  lost  our  jib-boom -and  two  men. 
Half  past  ekven  on  the  night  of  the  17th,  in  the  latitude  of 
37  degrees  N.  and  longitude  65  degrees  W.,  we  saw  several 
sail,  two  of  them  appearing  very  large ;  we  stood  from  them 
for  some  time,  then  shortened  sail  and  steered  the  remainder 
of  the  night  the  course  we  had  perceived  them  on.  At  day- 
light on  Sunday,  the  18th,  we  saw  them  a-head — gave  chase, 
and  soon  discovered  them  to  be  a  convoy  of  six  sail,  under 
the  protection  of  a  sloop  of  war,  four  of  them  large  ships, 
mounting  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  guns.  At  thirty-two 
minutes  past  eleven,  A.  M.,  we  engaged  the  sloop  of  war, 
having  first  received  her  fire,  at  the  distance  of  fifty  or  sixty 
yards,  which  space  we  gradually  lessened  until  we  laid  her 
on  board,  after  a  well  supported  fire  of  forty-three  minutes ; 
and  although  so  near,  while  loading  the  last  broadside,  that 
our  rammers  were  shoved  against  the  side  of  the  enemy, 
our  men  exhibited  the  same  alacrity  which  they  had  done 
during  the  whole  of  the  action.  They  immediately  surren- 

VOL.  i.  PART  ii.  [O] 


94]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

dered  upon  our  gaining  their  forecastle,  so  that  no  loss  was 
sustained  on  either  side  after  boarding. 

Our  main-top-mast  was  shot  away  between  four  and  five 
minutes  from  the  commencement  of  the  firing,  and  falling, 
together  with  the  main-top-sail  yard,  across  the  larboard  fore 
and  fore-top-sail  braces,  rendered  our  head-yards  unmanage- 
able the  remainder  of  the  action.  At  eight  minutes  the  gaft 
and  mizen-top-gallant-mast  came  down,  and  at  twenty  mi- 
nutes from  the  commencement  of  the  action  every  brace  and 
most  of  the  rigging  was  shot  away.  A  few  rojnutes  after 
separating  from  the  Frolic  both  her  masts  fell  upon  the  deck, 
the  main-mast  going  close  by  the  deck,  and  the  fore-mast  12 
or  15  feet  above  it. 

The  courage  and  exertions  of  the  officers  and  crew  fully 
answered  my"  expectations  and  wishes.  Lieutenant  Biddle's 
active  conduct  contributed  much  to  our  success,  by  the  exact 
attention  paid  to  every  department  during  the  engagement, 
and  the  animating  example  he  afforded  the  crew  by  his  in- 
trepiditv.  Lieutenants  Rodgers,  Booth,  and  Mr.  Rapp, 
shewed  by  the  incessant  fire  from  their  divisions,  that  they 
were  not  to  be  surpassed  in  resolution  or  skill.  Mr,  Knight 
and  every  other  officer,  acted  with  a  courage  and  promptitude 
highly  honourable,  and  I  trust  have  given  assurance  that  they 
may  be  relied  on  whenever  their  services  may  be  required. 

I  could  not  ascertain  the  exact  loss  of  the  enemy,  as  many 
of  the  dead  lay  buried  under  the  masts  and  spars  that  had 
fallen  upon  deck,  which  two  hours'  exertion  had  not  suffi- 
ciently removed.  Mr,  Biddle,  who  had  charge  of  the  Frolic, 
states,  that  from  what  he  saw,  and  from  information  from  the 
officers,  the  number  of  killed  must  have  been  about  thirty, 
and  that  of  the  wounded  about  forty  or  fifty — of  the  killed 
is  her  first  lieutenant  and  sailing  master,  of  the  wounded  cap- 
tain Whinyates  and  the  second  lieutenant. 

We  had  five  killed  and  five  w-ouncled,  as  per  list;  the 
wounded  are  recovering.  Lieutenant  Claxton,  who  was 
confined  by  sickness,  left  his  bed  a  little  previous  to  the  en- 
gagement, and  though  too  weak  to  be  at  his  division,  re- 
mained upon  deck,  and  shewed  by  his  composed  manner  of 
noting  its  incidents,  that  we  had  lost  by  his  illness  the  ser- 
vices of  a  brave  officer.  I  am,  respectfully,  yours, 

JAMES  JONES. 
The  Honourable  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [95 

From  the  London  Gazette,  December  26. 

Letter  from  the  Captain  of  the  Frolic  to  Admiral  Warren. 
His  Majesty  ',v  Ship  Poictiers,  at  Sea,  Oct.  28. 

Sir,  it  is  with  the  most  bitter  sorrow  and  distress  I  have 
to  report  to  your  excellency  the  capture  of  his  majesty's  brig 
Frolic,  by  the  Wasp,  belonging  to  the  United  States  of 
America,  on  the  18th  instant. 

Having  under  convoy  the  homeward  bound  trade  from  the 
bay  of  Honduras,  and  being  in  latitude  36  degrees  N.  and 
64  degrees  W.  on  the  night  of  the  17th,  we  were  overtaken 
by  a  most  violent  gale  of  wind,  in  which  the  Frolic  carried 
away  her  main  yard,  lost  her  top-sails,  and  sprung  the  main- 
top-mast. On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  as  we  were  repairing 
the  damages  sustained  in  the  storm,  and  re-assembling  the 
scattered  ships,  a  suspicious  ship  came  in  sight,  and  gave 
chase  to  the  convoy. 

The  merchant  ships  continued  their  voyage  before  the 
wind  under  all  sail ;  the  Frolic  dropped  astern,  and  hoisted 
Spanish  colours,  in  order  to  decoy  the  stranger  under  her 
guns,  and  to  give  time  for  the  convoy  to  escape.  About  ten 
o'clock,  both  vessels  being  within  hail,  we  hauled  to  the  wind, 
and  the  battle  began.  The  superior  fire  of  our  guns  gave 
every  reason  to  expect  its  speedy  termination  in  our  favour, 
but  the  gaff  head-braces  being  shot  awav,  and  there  being  no 
sail  on  the  main-mast,  the  brig  became  unmanageable,  and 
the  enemy  succeeded  in  taking  a  position  to  rake  her,  while 
she  was  unable  to  bring  a  gun  to  bear. 

After  laying  some  time  exposed  to  a  most  destructive  fire, 
sho.  fell  with  the  bowsprit  betwixt  the  enemy's  main  and  rni- 
zen  rigging,  still  unable  to  return  his  fire. 

At  length  the  enemy  boarded,  and  made  himself  master  of 
the  brig,  every  individual  officer  being  wounded,  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  men  either  killed  or  wounded,  there  not 
being  twenty  persons  remaining  unhurt. 

Although  I  shall  evi  r  deplore  the  unhappy  issue  of  this 
contest,  it  would  be  great  injustice  to  the  merits  of  the  offi- 
cers and  crew,  if  I  failed  to  report  that  their  bravery  and 
coolness  are  deserving  of  every  praise;  and  I  am  convinced, 
if  the  Frolic  had  not  been  crippled  in  the  gale,  I  should  have 
to  make  a  very  different  report  to  your  excellency.  The 
Wasp  was  taken,  and  the  Frolic  re-captured  die  same  after- 
noon, by  his  majesty's  ship  Poictiers.  Being  separated  from 
them,  I  cannot  transmit  at  present  a  list  of  killed  and  wound- 
ed. Mr.  Charles  M'Kay,  the  first  lieutenant,  and  Mr.  Ste- 
phens, the  master,  have  died  of  their  wounds.  I  have  ihc 
honour  to  be,  &c.  T.  WHINYATES. 


96]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

AMERICAN    AND    BRITISH    ACCOUNTS    OF    THE    CAPTURE    OF 
THE    MACEDONIAN. 

Letter  from  Commodore  Decatur  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
U.  S.  Ship  United  States,  at  Sea,  Oct.  30,  1812. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  on  the  25th  in- 
stant, being  in  the  latitude  29°  N.  longitude  29°  30'  W.,  we 
fell  in  with,  and  after  an  action  of  an  hour  and  an  half,  cap- 
tured his  Britannic  majesty's  ship  Macedonian,  commanded 
by  captain  John  Garden,  and  mounting  49  carriage  guns  (the 
odd  gun  shifting).  She  is  a  frigate  of  the  largest  class,  two 
years  old,  four  months  out  of  dock,  and  reputed  one  of  the 
best  sailers  in  the  British  service.  The  enemy  being  to  wind- 
ward had  the  advantage  of  engaging  us  at  his  own  distance, 
which  was  so  great,  that  for  the  first  half  hour  we  did  not 
use  our  carronades,  and  at  no  moment  was  he  within  the  com- 
plete effect  of  our  musquetry  or  grape — to  this  circumstance 
and  a  heavy  swell,  which  was  on  at  the  time,  I  ascribe  the 
unusual  length  of  the  action. 

The  enthusiasm  of  every  officer,  seaman,  and  marine,  on 
board  this  ship,  on  discovering  the  enerm — their  steady  con- 
duct in  batfle,  and  precision  of  their  fire,  could  not  be  sur- 
passed. Where  all  met  my  fullest  expectations,  it  would  be 
unjust  in  me  to  discriminate.  Permit  me,  however,  to  re- 
commend to  your  particular  notice  my  first  lieutenant,  Wil- 
liam H.  Allen.  He  has  served  with  me  upwards  of  five 
years,  and  to  his  unremitted  exertions  in  disciplining  the 
crew,  is  to  be  imputed  the  obvious  superiority  of  our  gun- 
nery exhibited  in  the  result  of  this  contest. 

Subjoined  is  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  on  both 
sides.  Our  loss,  compared  with  that  of  the  enemy,  will  ap- 
pear small.  Amongst  our  wounded,  you  will  observe  the 
mime  of  lieutenant  Funk,  who  died  a  few  hours  after  the 
action — he  was  an  ofiver  of  great  gallantry  and  promise,  and 
the  service  has  sustained  a  severe  loss  in  his  death. 

The  Macedonian  lost  her  mizen-mast,  fore  and  main-top- 
masts and  main  yard,  and  was  much  cut  up  in  her  hull.  The 
damage  sustained  by  this  ship  was  not  so  much  as  to  render 
her  return  into  port  necessary,  and  had  I  not  deemed  it  im- 
portant that  we  should  see  our  prize  in,  should  have  conti- 
nued our  cruise. 

With  the  highest  consideration  and  respect,  I  am,  sir,  your 
obedient  humble  servant, 

(Signed)  STEPHEN  DECATUR. 

Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  &fc. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [97 

List  of  killed  and  xvounded  on  board  the  United  States. 

Killed — Thomas  Brown,  New-York,  seaman  ;  Henr)  Shep- 
herd, Philadelphia,  do.;  William  Murray,  Boston,  a  boy; 
Michael  O'Donnel,  New-York,  private  marine;  John  Ro- 
berts, do.  do. 

Wounded — John  Mercer  Funk,  Philadelphia,  lieutenant, 
since  dead  ;  John  Archibald,  New-York,  carpenters'  crew, 
do.;  Christian  Clark,  do.  seaman  ;  George  Christopher,  do. 
ordinary  seaman  ;  George  Mahar,  do.  do. ;  William  Jones, 
do.  do. ;  John  Laton,  do.  private  marine. 

On  board  the  Macedonian  there  were  36  killed  and  68 
wounded.  Among  the  former  were  the  boatswain,  one  mas- 
ter's mate,  and  the  schoolmaster,  and  of  the  latter  were  the 
first  and  third  lieutenants,  one  master's  mate,  and  two  mid- 
shipmen. 

From  the  London  Gazette,  January  I. 

Admiralty  Office,   Dec.  29,  1812. 

Copy  of  a   Letter  from   Captain   John  Surman  Garden,  late 
Commander  of  his  Majesty*  a  Ship  the  Macedonian,  to  John 
Wilson  Croker,  Esq.  dated  onboard  the  American  Ship   the 
United  States,  at  Sea,  the  28th  October,  1812. 
Sir,  it  is  with  the  deepest  regret  I   have  to  acquaint  you, 
for  the  information  of  my  lords  commissioners  of  the  admi- 
ralty, that  his  majesty's  late  ship  Macedonian  was  captured 
on  the  25th  instant  by  the  United  States'  ship  United  States, 
commodore  Decatur,  commander.     The  detail  is  as  follows: 
A  short  time  after  day-light,  steering  N,  W.  by  W.  with 
the  wind  from  the  southward,  in  latitude  29°  N.   and  longi- 
tude 29°  30'  W-,  in  the  execution  of  their  lordships'  orders, 
a  sail  was  seen  on  the  lee-beam,  which  I  immediately  stood 
for,  and  made  her  out  to  be  a  large  frigate  under  American 
colours;   at  9 o'clock  I  closed  with  her,  and  she  comm  need 
the  action,  which  we  returned,  but  for  the  enemy  keeping 
two  points  off  the  wind  I  was  not  enabled  to  get  as  close  to 
her  as  I  could  have  \vished. 

After  an  hour's  action  the  enemy  backed  and  came  to  the 
wind,  and  I  was  then  enabled  to  bring  her  to  close  battle ; 
in  this  situation  1  soon  found  the  enemv's  force  too  superior 
to  expect  success  unless  some  very  fortunate  chance  occurred 
in  our  favour,  and  with  this  hope  I  continued  the  battle  to 
two  hours  and  ten  minutes,  when  having  the  mizen  mast 
shot  away  by  the  board,  top  mast  shot  away  by  the  caps, 
main  yard  shot  in  pieces,  lower  masts  badly  wounded,  lower 
cut  to  pieces,  a  small  proportion  only  of  the  fore- 


98]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER, 

sail  left  to  the  fore  yard,  all  the  guns  on  the  quarterdeck  and 
forecastle  disabled  but  two,  and  filled  with  wreck,  two  also 
on  the  main  deck  disabled,  and  several  shot  between  wind 
and  water,  a  very  great  proportion  of  the  crew  killed  and 
wounded,  and  the  enemv  comparatively  in  good  order,  who 
had  now  shot  a-head,  and  was  about  to  place  himself  in  a 
raking  position,  without  our  being  enabled  to  return  the  fire, 
being  a  perfect  wreck  and  unmanageable  log,  I  deemed  it 
prudent,  though  a  p;;Jni"ul  extremity,  to  surrender  his  majes- 
ty's ship,  nor  was  this  dreadful  alternative  resorted  to  till 
every  hope  of  success  was  removed,  even  beyond  the  reach 
of  chance,  nor  till,  I  trust,  their  lordships  will  be  aware 
every  effort  had  been  made  against  the  enemy  by  myself,  my 
brave  officers,  and  men,  nor  should  she  have  been  surrendered 
whilst  a  man  lived  on  board  had  she  been  manageable. 

I  am  sorry  to  say  our  loss  is  very  severe  ;  I  find  by  this 
day's  muster  36  killed,  three  of  whom  lingered  a  short  time 
after  the  battle,  36  severely  wounded,  many  of  whom  can- 
not recover,  and  32  slightly  wounded,  who  may  all  do  well; 
.total  104. 

The  truly  noble  and  animating  conduct  of  my  officers,  and 
the  steady  bravery  of  my  crew  to  the  last  moment  of  the 
battle,  must  ever  rendrr  them  dear  to  their  country. 

My  first  lieutenant  David  Hope  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  head  towards  the  close  of  the  battle,  and  taken  below  ; 
but  was  soon  again  on  deck,  displaying  that  greatness  of 
mind  and  exertion,  which,  though  it  may  be  equalled,  can 
never  be  excelled ;  the  third  lieutenant,  John  Bulford,  was 
also  woundrd,  but  not  obliged  to  quit  his  quarters ;  second 
lieutenant  Samuel  Motley  and  he  deserve  my  highest  ac- 
knowledgments. The  cool  and  steady  conduct  of  Mr.  Wal- 
ker, the  master,  was  very  great  during  the  battle,  as  also  that 
of  lieutenants  Wilson  and  Magill  of  the  marines. 

On  being  taken  on  board  the  enemy's  ship  I  ceased  to 
wonder  at  the  result  of  the  battle.  The  U  ited  States  is 
built  with  the  scantling  of  a  74  gun  ship,  mounting  30  long 
24  pounders  (English  ship  guns)  on  her  main  deck,  and  22 
42  pounclers  carronades,  with  t\vo  long  24  pounders  on  her 
quarter  deck  and  forecastle-,  howitzer  guns  in  her  tops,  and 
a -travelling  carronade  on  her  upper  deck,  \\ith  a  complement 
of  478  picked  men. 

The  enemy  has  suffered  much  in  masts,  rigging,  and  hull, 
above  and  below  water ;  her  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  I 
am  not  aware  of,  but  I  know  a  lieutenant  and  six  men  have 
been  thrown  overboard. 

J.  S.  GARDEN. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [99 

CAPTURE  OF  THE  CALEDONIA  AND  THE  DETUOIT. 

Correspondence  between  the  Secretary  oftheNavrj  and  Captain 
Chaunccu  and  Lieutenant  Elliott,  relative  to  the  capture  and 
subsequent  disposition  of  the  British  armed  Brigs  Caledonia 
and  Detroit,  on  the  8th  of  October,  1812. 

Lieutenant  Elliott  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Aavy. 

Black  Rock,  9th  October,  1812. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  on  the  morning 
of  the  8th  instant,  two  British  vessels,  which  I  was  informed 
were  his  Britannic  majesty's  brig  Detroit,  late  the  United 
States'  brig  Adams,  and  the  brig  Hunter,  mounting  14  guns, 
but  which  afterwards  proved  to  be  the  brig  Caledonia,  both 
said  to  be  well  armed  and  manned,  came  down  the  lake,  and 
anchored  under  protection  of  Fort  Erie.   Having  been  on  the 
lines  for  some  time,  and  in  a  measure  inactively    employed, 
I  determined  to  make  an  attack,  and,  if  possible,  get  posse 
sion  of  them:   a  strong  inducement  to  this  attempt  aros 
from  a  conviction  that  with  these  two  vessels,  added  to  those 
which  I  have  purchased  and  am  fitting  out,  I  should  be  able 
to  meet  the  remainder  of  the   British  force  on  the  upper 
lakes,  and  save  an  incalculable  expense  and  labour  to   the 
government.     On  the  morning  of  their  arrival  I  heard  that 
our  seamen  were  but  a  short  distance  from  this  place,  and 
immediately  despatched  an  express  to  the  officers,  directing 
them  to  use  all  possible  despatch  in  getting  the  men  to  this 
place,  as  I  had  important  service  to  perform.  On  their  arrival, 
which  was  about  12  o'clock,  I  discovered  that  they  had  only 
about  twenty  pistols,  and  neither  cutlasses,  nor  battle-axes; 
but  on  application  to  generals  Smyth  and  Hall,  of  the  regu- 
lars and  militia,  I  was  supplied  with  a  few  arms;  and  general 
Smyth  was  so  good,  on  my  request,  as  immediately  to  detach 
fifty  men  from  the  regulars,  armed  with  muskets.     By  foul- 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  I  had  my  men  selected,  and  stationed 
in  two  boats,  which  I  had  previously  prepared  for  the  pur- 
pose :  with  those  boats,  fifty  men  in  each,  and  under  circum- 
stances very  disadvantageous,  my  men  having  had  scarcely 
time  to  refresh  themselves,  after  a  fatiguing  march  of  five 
hundred  miles,  I  put  off  from  the  mouth  of  Buffaloe  creek, 
tit  one   o'clock  the  following  morning,  and  at  three  I  was 
alongside  the  vessels.  In  about  ten  minutes  I  had  the  prison- 
ers all  secured,  the  topsails  sheeted  home,  and  the  vessels 
under  way.     Unfortunately   the   wind  was  not   sufficiently 
strong  to  get  me  up  against  a  rapid  current  into  the  lake. 


100]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

where  I  understood  another  armed  vessel  lav  at  anchor ;  and 
I  was  obliged  to  run  down  the  river  by  the  forts,  under  a 
heavy  fire  of  round,  grape,  and  cannister,  from  a  number  of 
pieces  of  heavy  ordnance,  and  several  pieces  of  flying  artil- 
lery, and  was  compelled  to  anchor  at  a  distance  of  about  four 
hundred  yards  from  two  of  their  batteries.  After  the  dis- 
charge of  the  first  gun,  which  was  from  the  fl\  ing  artillrrv,  I 
haiU-d  the  shore,  and  observed  to  the  officer,  that  if  another 
gun  was  fired  I  would  bring  the  prisoners  on  deck,  and  ex- 
pose them  to  the  same  fate  we  should  all  share;  but  notwith- 
standing they  disregarded  the  caution:  they  continued  a  con- 
stant and  destructive  fire.  One  single  moment's  reflection 
determined  me  not  to  commit  an  act  that  would  subject  me 
to  the  imputation  of  barbarity.  The  Caledonia  had  been 
beached  in  as  safe  a  position  as  the  circumstances  would  ad- 
mit of,  under  one  of  our  batteries  at  Black  Rock  ;  I  now 
brought  all  the  guns  of  the  Detroit  on  one  side,  next  the 
enemy,  stationed  the  men  at  them,  and  directed  a  fire,  which 
was  continued  as  long  as  our  ammunition  lasted  and  circum- 
stances permitted.  During  the  contest  I  endeavoured  to  get 
the  Detroit  on  our  side,  by  sending  a  line  (diere  being  no 
wind)  on  shore,  with  all  the  line  I  could  muster ;  but  the 
current  being  so  strong  the  boat  could  not  reach  the  shore.  I 
then  hailed  our  shore,  and  requested  that  warps  should  be 
made  fast  on  the  land,  and  sent  on  board ;  the  attempt  to  all 
which  again  proved  useless,  as  the  fire  was  such  as  would  in 
all  probability  sink  the  vessel  in  a  short  time.  I  determined 
to  drop  down  the  river  out  of  reach  of  the  batteries,  and 
make  a  stand  against  the  Hying  artillery.  I  accordingly  cut 
the  cable  and  made  sail,  with  very  light  airs ;  and  at  that  in- 
stant discovered  that  the  pilot  had  abandoned  me.  I  dropped 
astern  for  about  ten  minutes,  when  I  was  brought  up  on  our 
shore  on  Squaw  island  ;  got  the  boarding  boat  made,  had  all 
the  prisoners  put  in  and  sent  on  shore,  with  directions  for  the 
officer  to  return  for  me  and  what  property  we  could  get  from 
the  brig:  he  did  not  return,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  the 
boat's  getting  on  shore.  Discovering  a  skiff  under  the  coun- 
ter, I  sent  the  four  remaining  prisoners  in  the  boat,  and  with 
my  officer  I  went  on  shore  to  bring  the  boat  off.  I  asked  for 
protection  of  the  brig  of  lieutenant-colonel  Scott,  who  readily 
gave  it.  At  this  moment  I  discovered  a  boat  with  about  4O 
soldiers,  from  the  British  side,  making  for  the  brig;  they  got 
on  board,  but  were  soon  compelled  to  abandon  her,  with  the 
loss  of  nearly  all  their  men.  During  the  whole  of  this  morn- 
ing both  sides  of  the  river  kept  up  alternately  a  constant  fire 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [101 

on  the  brig,  and  so  much  injured  her  that  it  was  impossible 
to  have  floated  her:  before  I  left  her  she  had  received  twelve 
shot  of  large  size  in  her  bends,  her  sails  in  ribbons,  and  her 
rigging  all  cut  to  pieces. 

To  my  officers  and  men  I  feel  under  great  obligations :  to 
captain  Townson  and  lieutenant  Roach  of  the  2d  regiment 
of  artillery,  ensign  Presstman  of  the  infantry,  to  Cornelius 
Chapin,  Mr.  John  M'Comb,  Messrs.  John  Tower,  Thomas 
Davis,  Peter  Overtaks,  James  Sloan,  resident  gentlemen  of 
Buffaloe,  for  their  soldier  and  sailor-like  conduct ;  in  a  word-, 
every  man  fought  with  their  hearts  animated  only  by  the  in- 
terest and  honour  of  their  country.  The  prisoners  I  have 
turned  over  to  the  military.  The  Detroit  mounted  6  six- 
pound  long  guns,  a  commanding  lieutenant  of  marines,  a 
boatswain,  and  gunner,  and  56  men,  about  30  American  pri- 
soners on  board,  muskets,  pistols,  and  battle-axes  :  in  board- 
ing her  I  lost  one  man,  one  officer  wounded,  Mr.  John  C. 
Cummings,  acting  midshipman,  a  bayonet  through  the  leg : 
his  conduct  was  correct,  and  deserves  the  notice  of  the  de- 
partment. The  Caledonia  mounted  two  small  guns,  blunder- 
busses, pistols,  muskets,  cutlasses,  and  boarding  pistols,  12 
men  including  officers,  10  prisoners  on  board;  the  boat 
boarding  her  commanded  by  sailing-master  George  Watts, 
performed  his  duty  in  a  masterly  style  ;vbut  one  man  killed, 
and  four  badly  wounded,  I  am  afraid  mortally.  I  enclose  you 
a  list  of  the  officers  and  men  engaged  in  the  enterprize,  and 
also  a  view  of  the  lake  and  river,  in  the  different  situations 
of  attack.  In  a  day  or  two  I  shall  forward  the  names  of  the 
prisoners.  The  Caledonia  belongs  to  the  N.  W.  company, 
laden  with  furs,  worth,  I  understand,  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

(Signed)  JESSE  D.  ELLIOTT. 

Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Lieutenant  Elliott  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Black  Rock,  October  10,  1812. 

Sir,  in  my  letter  of  yesterday's  date  I  stated  my  intention 
to  enclose  to  you  a  list  of  the  officers  and  men  engaged  with 
me  in  capturing  his  Britannic  majesty's  brig  the  Dftroit  and 
the  brig  Caledonia.  From  the  incessant  fire  of  the  enemy 
and  my  own  constant  ungagements  for  the  protection  of  the 
vessels,  compel  me  to  postpone  sending  that  list  till  another 
opportunity.  Last  evening,  having  observed  an  intention  on 
the  part  of  the  enemy,  to  remove  the  ordnance  and  military 
stores  with  which  the  Detroit  was  charged,  I  determined  at 

VOJ..  I,  FART  TI. 


102]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

once  to  set  her  on  fire,  thereby  to  prevent  the  having  the  aid 
o  masts  and  yards  in  getting  her  guns  into  boats,  she  hav- 
ing five  12  pound  guns  in  her  hold,  and  six  6  pounders  on 
deck  ;  that  I  could  prepare  them,  and  with  my  sailors  remove 
thv  ordnance  during  the  night,  when  unobserved  by  the  ene- 
my. These  preparations  I  am  now  making,  and  shall  with 
as  much  expedition  as  possible  continue  to  get  the  ordnance, 
and  place  it  in  our  battery,  as  we  are  much  in  want:  not  one 
piece  at  Black  Rock.  The  Caledonia  I  have  perfectly  reco- 
vered from  the  enemy. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  8cc. 

(Signed)  JESSE  D.  ELLIOTT. 

Lieutenant  Elliott  to  Commodore  Chauncey. 

Black  Keck,  October  10,  1812. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  on  the  morning 
of  the  sixth  instant,  two  vessels  under  British  colours  came 
down  Lake  Erie,  and  anchored  under  the  protection  of  Fort 
Erie:  that  on  the  same  day  a  detachment  of  men  arrived 
from  New  York,  accompanied  by  sailing  masters  Watts  and 
Chisson,  with  some  masters'  mates,  and  midshipmen  :  that 
on  the  morning  following,  I,  with  two  boats  previously  pre- 
pared for  the  purpose,  boarded  and  took  possession  of  them, 
with  the  loss  of  two  men  killed,  Samuel  Fortune  and  Daniel 
Martin,  and  four  wounded;  acting  midshipman,  John  C. 
Cummings,  John  Garling,  Nathan  Armstrong,  Jerome  Sar- 
dii-,  and  John  Yocem.  As  there  is  not  a  probability  of  re- 
ceiving this  .shortly,  I  have  made  communication  to  the 
department  upon  the  subject,  a  copy  of  which  I  enclose  for 
your  perusal.  I  beg  you  will  not  have  conceived  me  hasty  in 
making  this  attack:  I  acted  as  if  the  action  came  directlv 
from  yourself.  Let  me  recommend  to  your  particular  atten- 
tion the  officers  and  men  who  performed  this  service  ;  each 
and  all  did  their  duty.  The  ensign  of  the  Adams  I  will  send 
.ii-ly  opportunity  ;  it  is  at  your  disposal.  The  par- 
ticulars, as  it  regards  the  vessels,  I  will  forward  you  in  a  day 
or  two  ;  -,  ;  I  am  much  engaged. 

With  sentiments,  Stc. 

P.  S.  I  have  neglected  mentioning  to  you  the  names  of  tiit- 

vessc  Is  captured.     On*',  his  Biitannic  majesty's  brig  Detroit, 

United  States'  brig  Adams  ;   the   other,  a  brig 

>  the  N.  W.  com;-  ailed 

iia. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS,  L  >3 

Commodore  Chauncey  to  the  Secretary  oj  the  Navy. 

Socket? s  Harbour,  October  16,  1812. 

Sir,  I  have  great  pleasure  in  informing;  you  that,  by  a  gen- 
tleman who  arrived  here  yesterday  afternoon  from  BufTaloe, 
I  learn  that  lieutenant  Elliott,  with  about  sixty  sailors,  and  a 
number  of  volunteer  militia,  cut  out  from  under  the  guns  of 
fort  Erie,  on  the  night  of  the  8th  instant,  the  brig  Adams, 
(lately  surrendered  at  Detroit)  and  the  brig  Caledonia,  laden 
with  peltry,  said  to  be  very  valuable  ;  but  in  running  these 
vessels  for  Black  Rock,  they  both  grounded,  in  such  a  situa- 
tion that  the  British  fort  was  firing  on  them,  when  my  infor- 
mant left  there  on  Friday  morning  last.  It  was  however  be- 
lieved, that  if  they  could  not  be  got  off  they  could  be  de- 
stroyed. I  however  hope  that  lieutenant  Elliott  will  be  able 
to  save  both  vessels  ;  for  such  an  addition  to  our  little  force 
on  lake  Erie,  at  this  time,  would  be  in\  Lieutenant 

Elliott  de'serves  much  praise  for  the  promptness  with  which 
he  ex  cuted  this  service;  as  the  sailors  had  only  arrived  at 
Black  Rock  on  the  8th,  and  he  had  no  particular  orders  from 
me,  except  to  have  boats  built  and  prepared  for  cutting  out 
the  British  vessels,  which  I  knew  rendezvoused  near  Fort 
Erie.  If  lieutenant  Elliott  succeed  in  saving  the  Adams 
and  Caledonia,  I  think  that  we  shall  obtain  the  command  of 
lake  Erie  before  December.  But  as  to  this  lake,  I  hardly 
know  what  to  say,  as  there  has  not  a  single  pound  of  powder 
nor  a  gun  arrived  yet:  and  I  can  make  no  calculation  when 
any  will  arrive.  I  feel  quite  discouraged,  and  shall  be  tempt- 
ed to  seek  th.  vhh  the  Oueida  alone,  if  the  guns  do 
not  arrive  soon. 

The  sailors  have  all  arrived  at  their  places  of  destination  ; 
but  the  marines  have  not  arrived.  I  however  hope  to  see 
them  to-day  or  to-morrow. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant, 

(Signed)  ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 

Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Commodore  Chauncey  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Sacketfs  Harbour,  27th  October,  1812. 

Sir,  I  h:ive  the  honour  of  enclosing  you  copies  of  two  let- 
ters from  lieutenant  Ellio'.f,  giving  ,nt  of  hi 
cut  out  from  under  Fort  Erie,  on  lake  Erie,  in  a  i  i 
manner,  two  British  brigs,  the  Detroit  (late  Adams)  and  the 
Caledonia,     The  Detroit  was  manned  nnd  armed  as  a  man 


irj  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

of  war ;  the  Caledonia  belonged  to  the  N.  W.  company,  and 
was  londed  with  peltry. 

Nothing  that  I  ran  say,  more  than  I  have  already  said,  in 
a  former  communication  upon  this  subject,  will  add  to  the 
credit  of  lieutenant  Elliott,  and  the  gallant  officers  and  men 
who  accompanied  him.  The  thing  spenks  for  itself,  and  will, 
I  am  sure,  be  duly  appreciated  by  all  who  have  any  idea  of 
the  difficulties  that  he  had  to  encounter,  after  getting  posses- 
sion of  these  vessels. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  respectfully,  sir,  your  most  obedi- 
ent servant, 

(Signed)  ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 

Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Captain  Harris  H.  Hickman  to  Lieutenant  Elliott. 

Washington,  January  8,  1813. 

Sir,  in  answer  to  your  note,  requesting  of  me  "a  general 
description  of  the  armament  and  stores  on  board,  at  the  time 
of  the  capture  of  the  Adams,  and  the  probable  number  of 
men,"  I  can  state  that  I  sailed  from  Maiden  in  the  Adams, 
and  arrived  at  Fort  Erie  on  the  morning  preceding  the  night 
in  which  you  captured  that  vessel.  I  left  her  in  the  afternoon, 
and  crossed  in  her  boat  to  Buffaloe  with  a  flag.  When  I  left 
the  Adams,  she  had  on  board  five  guns  mounted  (six  and  four 
pounders),  and  six  long  twelves  in  her  hold.  She  had  also  on 
board  a  quantity  of  powder  and  ball,  and  a  number  of  boxes  of 
muskets.  I  am  not  able  to  state,  of  my  own  knowledge,  the 
number  of  stands  of  arms,  but  I  have  been  informed  that 
nearly  all  the  arms  taken  at  Detroit  were  on  board ;  if  that 
was  the  fact,  the  number  must  have  exceeded  two  thousand. 
The  number  of  the  crew  that  I. left  on  board  could  not  vary 
much  from  sixty,  and  the  number  of  Am? rican  prisoners 
about  thirty,  including  three  officers. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  respectfully,  your  obedient  ser- 
vant, HARRIS  H.  HICKMAN. 

Lieutenant  J.  D.  Elliott,  U.  S.  .V. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  Lieutenant  EU. 

[I- Department,  27th  October,  1812. 

Sir,  I  have  received,  with  great  satisfaction,  your  commu- 
nication of  the  9th  instirnt,  and  have  been  desired  by  the  pre- 
sident of  the  United  States  to  return  to  you,  and  through 
you,  to  the  officers  and  men  under  your  command  in  the  ex- 
pedition to  Fort  Erie,  which  terminated  to  the  glory  of  the 
American  arms,  his  particular  thanks. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [105 

im,  with  great  respect,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

PAUL  HAMILTON. 

P.  S.  Your  having  abstained  from  fulfilling  your  intima- 
tion, that  you  would  expose  your  prisoners  to  the  enemy's 
"ire  is  highly  approved. 

sse  D.  Elliott,  Esq.  Lieutenant  commanding,  Black  Rock. 


BATTLE    OF    QtTEENSt  OWN. 

from  Major-General  Van  Rensselaer,  of  the  New  Tork 

Militia,  to  Major-General  Henry  Dearborn,  transmitted  by 

the  latter  to  fhe  Dtbart'nent  oflVar. 

Head-quarters^  Lervistorvn,  October  14,  1812. 

Sir,  as  the  movt  rnents  of  the  army  under  my  command, 
since  I  had  last  the  honour  to  address  you  on  the  8th  instant, 
have  been  of  a  very  important  character,  producing  conse- 
quences serious  to  many  individuals;  establishing  facts  ac- 
tually connected  with  the  interest  of  the  service  and  safety 
of  trie  armv  :  and  as  I  stand  prominently  responsible  for 
some  of  these  consequences,  I  beg  leave  to  explain  to  you, 
sir,  and  through  you  to  my  country,  the  situation  and  cir- 
cumstances in  which  I  have  had  to  act,  and  the  reasons  and 
motives  which  governed  ni";  and  if  the  result  is  not  all  that 
might  have  been  wished,  it  is  such,  that  when  the  whole 
ground  shall  be  viewed,  I  shall  cheerfully  submit  myself  to 
judgment  of  my  country. 

In  my  letter  of  the.  8th  instant  I  apprized  you  that  a  crisis 
in  this  campaign  was  rapidlv  advancing;   and  that  (to  repeat 

J>  same  words)  "the  blow  must  be  soon  struck,  or  all  the 
1  and  expense  of  the  campaign  go  for  nothing;  and  worse 
;n  nothing,  for  the  wliole  will  be  tinged  with  dishonour." 
Under  such  impressions,  I  had  on  the  5th  instant  written 
to  brigadier-general  Smyth,  of  the  United  .States  forces,  re- 
questing an  interview  with  him,  major-general  Hall,  and  the 
commandants  of  the  United  States  regiments,  for  the  pur- 

«e  of  conferring  upon  the  subject  of  future  operations.     I 
5te  major-general  Hall  to  the  same  purport.      On  the  llth 
ad  received  no  answer  from  general  Smyth  ;  but  in  a  note 
to  me,    of  the    10th,  general    Hall  mentioned    that   general 
Smvh  had  not  yet  then  agreed  upon  any  day  for  the  consul- 
tation. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  partial  success  of  lieutenant  Elliot,  tit 


106]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Black  Rock  (of  which,  however,  I  have  received  no  offi- 
cial information),  began  to  excite  a  strong  disposition  in  the 
troops  to  act.  This  was  expressed  to  me  through  various 
channels  in  the  shape  of  an  alternative  ;  that  thc-v  must  have 
orders  to  act ;  or,  at  all  hazards,  they  would  go  home.  I  for- 
bear here  commenting  upon  the  obvious  consequences  tome, 
personally,  of  longer  withholding  my  orders  under  such  cir- 
cumstances. 

I  had  a  conference  with as  to  the  possibility  of  get- 
ting some  person  to  pass  over  to  Canada  and  obtain  correct 
information.  On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  he  wrote  to  me  that 
he  had  procured  the  man  who  bore  his  letter  to  go  over.  In- 
structions were  given  him ;  he  passed  over — obtained  such 
information  as  warranted  an  immediate  attack.  This  was  con- 
fidently co'mmunicated  to  several  of  my  first,  officers,  and  pro- 
duced great  zeal  to  act ; — more  especially  as  it  might  have  a 
controuling  effect  upon  the  movements  at  Detroit,  where  it 
was  supposed  general  Brock  had  gone  with  all  the  force  he 
dare  spare  from  the  Niagara  frontier.  The  best  preparations 
in  mv  power  were  therefore  made  to  dislodge  the  enemy 
from  the  heights  of  Queenstown,  and  possess  ourselves  of  the 
village,  where  the  troops  might  be  sheltered  from  the  distress- 
ing inclemency  of  the  weather. 

Lieutenant-colonel  Fenwick's  flying  artillery,  and  a  detach- 
ment of  regular  troops  under  his  command,  were  ordered  to 
be  up  in  season  for  Fort  Niagara.  Orders  were  also  sent  to 
general  Smyth,  to  send  down  from  Buffaloe  such  detach- 
ments of  his  brigade  as  existing  circumstances  in  that  vicini- 
ty might  warrant.  The  attack  was  to  have  been  made  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  llth,  by  crossing  over  in  boats 
from  the  old  ferry  opposite  the  heights.  To  avoid  any  em- 
barrassment in  crossing  the  river  (which  is  here  a  sheet  of 
violent  eddies)  experienced  boatmen  were  procured  to  take 
the  boats  from  the  landing  below  to  the  place  of  embarkation. 
Lieutenant  Sims  was  considered  the  man  of  greatest  skill  for 
this  service.  He  went  a-head,  and  in  the  extreme  darkness, 
passed  the  intended  place  far  up  the  river — and  there,  in  a 
most  extraordinary  manner,  fastened*  his  boat  to  the  shore, 
and  abandoned  the  'detachment.  In  this  front  boat  he  had 
carried  nearly  every  oar  which  was  prepared  for  all  the  boats. 
In  this  agonizing  dil'.-mma  stood  officers  and  men,  whose-  ar- 
dour had  not  b  tn  cooled  by  exposure  through  the  night  to 
one  of  the  most  tremendous  north-east  storms,  which  con- 
tinued, unabated,  for  twentv-eight  hours,  and  deluged  the 
whole  camp.  The  ap  day-light  extinguished  every 


>FFICIAL  DOCUPvIENTS.  [10? 

prospect  of  success,  and  the  detachment  returned  to  camp. 
Colonel  Van  Rensselaer  was  to  have  commanded  the  de- 
tachment. 

After  this  result,  I  had  hoped  the  patience  of  the  troops 
would  have  continued  until  I  could  submit  the  plan  suggest- 
ed in  my  letter  of  the  8th,  that  I  might  act  under  and  in  con- 
formity to  the  opinion  which  might  be  then  expressed.  But 
my  hope  was  idle:  the  previously  excited  ardour  seemed  to 
have  gained. new  heat  from  the  late  miscarriage — the  brave 
were  mortified  to  stop  short  of  their  object,  and  the  timid 
thought  laurels  half  won  by  an  attempt. 

On  the  morning  of  the  12th,  such  was  the  pressure  upon 
me  from  all  quarters,  that  I  became  satisfied  that  my  refusal 
to  act  might  involve  me  in  suspicion  and  the  service  in  dis- 
grace. 

Viewing  affairs  at  Buffaloe  as  yet  unsettled,  I  had  imme- 
diately countermanded  the  march  of  general  Smyth's  brigade, 
upon  the  failure  of  the  first  expedition ;  but  having  now  de- 
termined to  attack  Queenstown,  I  sent  new  orders  to  general 
Smvth  to  march ;  not  with  the  view  of  his  aid  in  the  attack, 
for  I  considered  the  force  detached  sufficient,  but  to  support 
the  detachment  should  the  conflict  be  obstinate  and  long  con- 
tinued. 

ieutenant-colonel  Christie,  who  had  just  arrived  at  the 
mile  creek,  had,  late  in  the  night  of  the  first  contempla- 
ted attack,  gallantly  offered  me  his  own  and  his  men's  ser- 
vice ;  but  he  got  my  permission  too  late.  He  now  again 
came  forward ;  had  a  conference  with  colonel  Van  Rensse- 
laer, and  begged  that  he  might  have  the  honour  of  a  com- 
mand in  the  expedition.  The  arrangement  was  made.  Co- 
lonel Van  Rensselaer  was  to  command  one  column  of  300 
militia;  and  lieutenant-colonel  Christie  a  column  of  the 
same  number  of  regular  troops. 

Every  precaution  was  now  adopted  as  to  boats,  and  the 
most  confidential  and  experienced  men  to  manage  them.  At 
an  early  hour  in  the  night,  lieutenant-colonel  Christie  march- 
ed his  detachment,  by  the  rear  road,  from  Niagara  to  camp. 
At  seven  in  the  evening  lieutenant-colonel  Stranaham's  re- 
giment moved  from  Niagara  Falls,  at  eight  o'clock,  Meads  ; 
and  at  nine,  lieutenant-colonel  Blan's  regiment  marched 
from  the  same  place.  All  were  in  camp  in  good  season. 
Agreeably  to  my  orders  issued  upon  this  occasion,  the  two 
columns  were  to  pass  over  together;  and  soon  as  the  heights 
should  be  carried,  lieutenant-colonel  Fenwick's  flying  artille- 
rv  was  to  pass  over;  then  major  Mulla;.  hmciU  of 


108]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

At  dawn  of  day  the  boats  were  in  readiness,  and  the  troops 
commenced  embarkation  under  the  cover  of  a  commanding 
battery,  mounting  two  eighteen  pounders  and  two  six--s.  The 
movement  was  soon  discovered,  and  a  brisk  fire  of  muske- 
try was  poured  from  the  whole  line  of  the  Canada  sh 
Our  battery  then  opened  to  sweep  the  shore,  but  it  was  for 
some  minutes  too  dark  to  direct  much  fire  with  safety.  A 
brisk  cannonade  was  now  opened  upon  the  boats  from  three 
different  batteries — our  battery  returned  their  fire,  and  occa- 
sionally threw  grape  upon  the  shore,  and  was  itself  served 
with  shells  from  a  small  mortar  of  the  enemy's.  Colonel 
Scott,  of  the  artillery,  by  hastening  his  march  from  Niagara 
falls  in  the  night,  arrived  in  season  to  return  iho  enemy's 
with  two  six-pounders. 

The  boats  were  somewhat  embarrassed  with  the  eddies,  as 
well  as  with  a  shower  of  shot :  but  colonel  Van  Rensseluer, 
with  about  100  men,  soon  effected  his  landing  amidst  a  tre- 
mendous fire,  directed  upon  him  from  every  point ;  but  to 
the  astonishment  of  all  who  witnessed  the  scene,  this  v.»n  of 
the  column  advanced  slowly  ag-iinst  the  fire.  It  was  a  seri- 
ous misfortune  to  the  van,  and  indeed  to  the  whole  expedi- 
tion, that  in  a  few  minutes  after  landing,  colonel  Van  Rens- 
selaer  received  four  wounds — a  ball  passed  through  his  right 
thigh,  entering  just  below  the  hip-bone — Another  shot  passed 
through  the  same  thigh,  a  little  below — the  third  through  the 
calf  of  his  leg — and  a  fourth  contused  his  heel.  This  was 
quite  a  crisis  in  the  expedition.  Under  so  severe  a  fire  it  was 
difficult  to  form  raw  troops.  BY  some  mismanagement  of 
the  boatmen,  lieutenant-colonel  Christie  did  not  arrive  until 
some  time  after  this,  and  was  wounded  in  the  h:ind  in  pass- 
ing the  river.  Colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  still  able  to  stand, 
with  great  presence  of  mind  ordered  his  officers  to  pro- 
ceed with  rapidity  and  storm  the  fort.  This  service  was  gal- 
lantly performed,  and  the  enemy  driven  down  the  hill  in  eve- 
ry direction.  Soon  after  this  both  parties  were  considera- 
bly reinforced,  and  the  conflict  was  renewed  in  various 
places — many  of  the  enemy  took  shelter  behind  a  stone 
guard  house,  where  a  piece  of  ordnance  was  now  briskly 
served.  I  ordered  the  fire  of  the  battery  directed  upon  the 
guard  house  ;  and  it  was  so  effectualh  done,  that  with  tight 
or  ten  shot  the  fire  was  silenced.  The  enemy  then  retreated 
behind  a  large  store  house  ;  but  in  a  short  time  the  rout 
became  general,  and  the  enemy's  fire  vras  siknced  except 
from  a  one-gun  batter)-,  so  far  down  the  river  as  to  be  out  of 
the  reach  of  our  heavy  ordnance,  and  our  light  pieces  could 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [1O9 

it.  A  number  of  -boats  now  passed  over  unannoy- 
ed,  exeapt  from  the  one  unsilencecl  gun.  For  some  time 
after  I  had  passed  over,  the  victory  appeared  complete-;  but 
in  the  expectation  of  future  attacks,  I  was  taking  measures 
for  fortifying  my  camp  immediately — the  direction  of  this  ser- 
vice I  committed  to  lieutenant  Totten,  of  the  engineers.  But 
very  soon  the  enemy  were  reinforced  by  a  detachment  of 
several  hundred  Indians  from  Chippawa — they  commenced 
a  furious  attack — but  were  promptly  met  .and  routed  by  the 
rifle  and  bayonet.  By  this  time,  I  perceived  my  troops  were 
embarking  very  slowly.  I  passed  immediately  over  to  ac- 
celerate their  movements — but,  to  my  utter  astonishment,  I 
found  that  at  the  very  moment  when  complete  victory  was 
in  our  hands,  the  ardour  of  the  unengaged  troops  had  en- 
tirelv  subsided.  I  rode  in  all  directions,  urged  men  by  every 
consideration  to  pass,  but  in  vain. — Lieutenant-colonel  Bloom, 
who  had  been  wounded  in  action,  returned,  mounted  his 
horse,  and  rode  through  the  ranks — as  did  also  Judge  Peck, 
who  happened  to  be  here,  exhorting  the  companies  to  pro- 
ceed, but  all  in  vain. 

At  this  time  a  large  reinforcement  from  Fort  George  was 
discovered  coming  up  the  river.     As  the  battery  on  the  hill 
was  considered  an  important  check   against  their  ascending 
the  heights,  measures  were  immediately  taken  to  send  them 
a  fresh  supply  of  ammunition,  as  I  had  learnt  there  was  left 
only  20  shot  for  the  18-pounders.     The  reinforcement,  how- 
ever, obliqued  to  the  right  from  the  road,  and  formed  a  junc- 
tion with  the  Indians  in  the  rear  of  the  heights.     Finding,  to 
my  infinite  mortification,  that  no- reinforcement  would  pass 
over ;  seeing  that  another  severe  conflict  must   soon   com- 
mence ;  and  knowing  that  the  brave  men  on  the  heights  were 
quite  exhausted  and  nearly  out  of  ammunition,  all  1  could  do 
was  to  send  them  a  fresh  supply  of  cartridges.     At  this  cri- 
tical moment  I  despatched  a  note  to  general  Wadsworth,  ac- 
quainting him  with  our  situation — leaving   the  course   to  be 
pursued  much  to  his  own  judgment — with  assurance  that  if 
he  thought  best  to  retreat,  I  would,  endeavour  to  send  as  many 
boats  as  I  could  command,  and  cover  his   retreat   by   every 
fire  I  could  safely  make.     But  the   boats  were   dispersed ; 
many  of  the  boatmen  had  fled,  panic   struck ;  and  but  few 
got  off.    But  my  note  could  but  little  more  than  have  reached 
general  W.  about  4  o'clock,  when  a  most  severe  and  obsti- 
nate conflict  commenced  and  continued  about  half  an  hour, 
with  a  tremendous  fire  of  cannon,  flying  artillery,  and  -mus- 
ketry.    The  enemy  succeeded  in  re-possessing  their  battery, 

VOL.  i.  PART  TI.  TO/! 


110]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

and  gained  advantage  on  every-  side  ;  the  brave  men  who 
had  gained  the  victory,  exhausted  of  strength  and  ajnmuni- 
tion,  and  grieved  at  the  unpardonable  neglect  of  their  fellow- 
soldiers,  gave  up  the  conflict. 

I  can  only  add  that  the  victory  was  really  won;  but  lost  for 
the  want  of  a  small  reinforcement!  One-third  part  of  the 
idle  men  might  have,  saved  all. 

I  have  been  so  pressed  with  the  various  duties  of  burying 
the  dead,  providing  for  the  wounded,  collecting  the  public 
property,  negociating  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  all  the 
concerns  consequent  of  such  a  battle,  that  1  have  not  been 
able  to  forward  this  despatch  at  so  early  an  hour  as  I  could 
have  wished.  I  shall  soon  forward  you  another  despatch,  in 
which  I  shall  endeavour  to  point  out  to  you  the  conduct  of 
some  most  gallant  and  deserving  officers.  But  I  cannot  in 
justice  close  without  expressing  the  very  great  obligation 
I  am  under  to  brigadier-general  Wadsworth,  colonel  Van 
Rensselaer,  colonel  Scott,  lieutenant-colonels  Christie  and 
Fenwick,  and  captain  Gibson.  Many  others  have  also  be- 
haved most  gallantly.  As  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  many 
of  our  troops  fled  to  the  woods,  with  the  hope  of  crossing 
the  river,  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  the  probable  number 
of  killed,  wounded,  or  prisoners.  The  slaughter  of  our 
troops  must  have  been  very  considerable.  And  the  enemy 
have  suffered  severely. 

General  Br,ock  is  among  their  slain,  and  his  aid-de-camp 
mortally  wounded. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  with  great  respect  and  consi- 
deration, your  most  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)   ,  STN.  VAN  RENSSELAER, 

Major-Genera/. 
Major-General  Dearborn. 


AFFAIR    AT    ST.    REGIS. 

Letter  from  Major  Young,  to  Brigadier-General  Blocmfeld, 
Commander  of  the  Northern  Army. 

Head-Quarters,  Camp,  French  Mils,  24th  October,  1812. 

On  the  22d  I  despatched  several  confidential  friends  to  re- 
connoitre about  the  village  of  St.  Regis:  they  returned  with 
the  information  that  the  enemy  had  landed  in  the  village,  and 
that  \re  migKt  expect  a  visit  from  them  immediately.  Their 
number  was  stated  by  no  one  at  less  than  11O,  and  from  that 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [ill 

to  300-  the  most  certain  information  fixed  on  the  former 
number.     It  was  also  believed  that   the  enemy  were  deter- 
mined to  make  A  stand  at  that  place,  and  would  speedily  in 
crease  their  number.— This  determined  me  to  make  an  im- 
mediate attempt  to  take  out  those  already  landed,  before  any 
reinforcement   could  arrive.     I  ordered  the  men  to  be  fur- 
nished with  two  days'  rations  of  provisions,  with  double  ra- 
tions of  whiskey;  and  at  11  at  night  we  marched  with  the 
utmost  silence,  that  we  might  give  as  little  alarm  as  possible. 
We  took  a  circuitous  route  through  the  woods,  and  arrived 
at  Grav's  mills  at  half  past  3,  A.  M.     We  found  here  a  boat, 
a  small  canoe,  and  two   cribs   of  boards.     Captain   Lyons 
company  crossed  in  the  boat,  captain  M'Niel's  in  the  canoe, 
and  the' remainder,  with   our  horses,  crossed  on   the  cribs. 
We  arrived  within  half  a  mile  of  the  village   at  4  o  clock, 
where  being  concealed  from  the  enemy  by  a  little  rise  of 
oround,  we  halted  to  reconnoitre,  refresh  the  men,  and  make 
our  disposition  for  the  attack,  which  was  arranged  in  the  j 

lowing  order : 

Captain  Lvon  was  detached  from  the  right,  with  orders  to 
take  the  road  running  along  the  bank  of  the  St. .Regis  river, 
with   directions  to   gain  the   rear  of  captain   Mountaigny  s 
»ouse,  in  which,  and  Donally's,  the  enemy  were  said  to   1: 
mattered.     Captain  Tildon  was  detached  to  the  St.  Law- 
rence, with  the  view  of  gaining  the  route  of  Donally  s  house, 
and  also  securing  the  enemy's  boats  (expected  to  have  been 
stationed  there)  to  prevent  their  retreat.     With  the   remain- 
der of  the  force  I  moved  on  in  front,  and  arrived  within  50 
yards  of  Mountaignv's  house,  when   I  found  by  the   firing 
that  captain  Lvon  was  engaged;  at  the  same  instant  I  disco- 
vered a  person  passing  in  front,  and  ordered  him  to  stand  ; 
but  not  being  obeyed  ordered  captain  Higbie's   first  platoon 
to  fire,  and  The  poor  fellow  soon  fell.     He  proved  to  be  the 
^nsign  named  in  the  list  of  killed.     The  firing  was  at  an  end 
m  an   instant,  and  we  soon  found  in  our  possession  40  pn 
soners,  with  their  arms,  equipments,  &c. 

[Here  follows  a  list  of  killed,  four   in   number    and 
wounded,  mortally.     Equipments,  one  stand  of  colours,  two 

^  After  searing, *n'Jain,  for  further  military  stores,  we  re- 
crossed  the  river  at  the  village,  and  returned  to  camp  by  t 
nearest  route,  where  we  arrived  at  U,  A  M.  The  batteau* 
with  baggage,  &c.  arrived  a  few  minutes  before  us.  We  had 
not  a  man  hurt.  I  cannot' close  this  letter  without  stating  to 
your  excellency,  that  the  officers  and  soldiers,  xor  their  c«n- 


- 


112]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

duct  on  this  occasion,  deserve  the  highest  encomiums ; 
so  strict  was  their  attention  to  duty  and  orders,  that  we  en- 
tered the  place  without  being  even  heard  'by  the  Indians' 
dogs.  The  prisoners  I  have  just  sent  off  to  Plattsburgh,  to 
wait  the  disposition  of  your  excellency.  I  am,  kc. 

G.  P.  YOUNG,  Major, 
Commanding  the  Troops  stationed  at  F.  Mills* 
Brig.-Gen.  Eloomjidd,  commanding  advanced  N.  Army. 


CRUIZE    OF    1HK    SQUADRON    ON    LAKE    ONTARIO. 

Letter  from  Commodore  Chauncey  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Socket? £  Harbour,  6th  November. 

Sir,  as  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  Royal  George,  Prince 
Regent,  and  Duke  of  Gloucester,  have  gone  up  the  lake  with 
tvo'ops  to  reinforce  Fort  George ;  and  as  I  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  other  troops  are  waiting  at  Kingston  for  their  re- 
turn, destined  for  the  same  port;  I  have  determined  to  pro- 
ceed with  the  force  I  have  ready  in  quest  of  the  enemy.  My 
present  intention  is,  to  take  a  position  on  the  Canada  shore, 
near  some  small  islands,  called  the  "  False  Ducks,"  where 
the  enemy  are  obliged  to  pass,  and  where  I  will  wait  their  re- 
turn to  Kingston.  If  I  should  succeed  in  my  enterprise 
(which  I  have  little  doubt  of),  I  shall  make  an  attack  upon 
Kingston,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  guns  and  public 
stores  at  that  station. 

I  shall  proceed  for  ray  station  this  evening,  or  to-morrow 
morning,  wiui  the  following  vessels,  to  wit:  brigOneida,  and 
schooners  Hamilton,  Governor  Torapkins,  Conquest,  Grow- 
ler, Julia,  and  Pert :  mounting  altogether  4O  guns  of  dif- 
ferent calibres,  and  430  men,  including  mariners. 

With  this  force  I  hope  to  give  a  good  account  of  the  ene- 
my, although  he  is  mor&  than  double  our  force  in  guns  and 
men.  His  consists  of  the  foilovring  vessels,  as  near  as  •!  can 
ascertain,  to  \vit :  The  ship  Royal  George,  26  guns,  260  men 
— ship  Earl  Moira,  18  guns,  200  men — schooners  Prince  Re- 
gent, 18  guns,  150  men — Duke  of  Gloucester,  14  guns,  80 
men — Taranto,  14  'guns,  80  men — Governor  Simcoe,  12 
guns,  70  men — Seneca,  4  guns,  40  men — making  a  grand  to- 
tal of  108  guns  and  890  men. 

The  officers  and  men  under  my  command  are  extremely 
anxious  to  meet  the  enemy.  We  cannot  command  success, 
but  we  will  endeavour  to  deserve  it. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [113 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  obe- 
dient servant, 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 

The  Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  6ft'. 

Letter  from  Mr.  S.  T.  Anderson,  enclosing  one  from  Commo- 
dore Chauncey,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Socket?*  Harbour,  13th  Nov.  1812 — at  night. 

Sir,  since  the  enclosed  letter  from  the  commodore  was 
written,  the  Gi-owler  has  returned  with  a  prize,  and  in  her 
captain  Brock,  brother  to  the  late  general  of  that  name,  with 
the  baggage  of  the  latter.  By  the  prize  we  learned,  that  the 
Earl  of  Moira  was  off  the  False  Ducks,  and  the  commodore 
has  put  off  in  a  snow  storm  in  the  hope  of  cutting  her  off 
from  Kingston. 

From  information  received  from  captain  Brock,  there  is 
no  question  but  Kingston  is  very  strongly  defended.  He  ex- 
pressed surprize  to  find  our  vessels  had  got  out  of  the  harbour 
after  having  been  in  it ;  and  says  that  the  regiment  to  which  he 
belongs  is  quartered  there  500  strong,  besides  other  regulars, 
and  a  well  appointed  militia.  The  resistance  made  fully  jus- 
tifies this  report.  Be  assured,  sir,  that  in  the  action  of  which 
the  commodore  has  given  you  an  account,  the  national  ho- 
nour has  been  most  ably  supported. 

In  great  haste,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

SAML.  T.  ANDERSON. 
The  Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Sachet? s  Harbour,  13th  Nov.  1812. 

Sir,  I  arrived  here  last  evening  in  a  gale  of  wind,  the  pi- 
lots having  refused  to  keep  the  lake.  On  the  8th  I  fell  in 
with  the  Royal  George,  and  chased  her  into  the  bay  of  Quan- 
ti,  where  I  lost  sight  of  her  in  the  night.  In  the  morning 
of  the  9th  we  again  got  sight  of  her,  lying  in  Kingston  chan- 
nel. We  gave  chase,  and  followed  her  into  the  harbou*  of 
Kingston,  where  we  engaged  her  and  the,  batteries  for  one 
hour  and  45  minutes.  I  had  made. up  my  mind  to  board 
her,  but  she  was  so  well  protected  by  the  batteries,  and  the 
wind  blowing  directly  in,  it  was  deemed  imprudent  to  make 
the  attempt  at  this  time ;  the  pilots  also  refused  to  take 
charge  of  the  vessels. 

Under  these  circumstances,  and  it  being  after  sun  down, 
I  determined  to  haul 'off  and  renew  the  attack  next  morning. 
We  beat  up  in  good  order  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  Royal 
George  and  batteries  to  Four-mile-point,  where  we  anchored. 


114]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

It  blew  heavy  in  squalls  from  the  westward  during  the  night, 
and  there  was  every  appearance  of  a  gale  of  wind.  The  pi- 
lot became  alarmed,  and  I  thought  it  most  prudent  to  get 
into  a  place  of  more  safety.  I  therefore  (very  reluctantly) 
deferred  renewing  the  attack  upon  the  ships  and  forts  until  a 
more  favourable  opportunity. 

At  7,  A.  M.  on  the  10th,  I  made  the  signal  to  weigh,  and 
•we  beat  out  of  a  very  narrow  channel  under  a  very  heavy 
press  of  sail  to  the  open  lake.  At  10  we  fell  in  with  the  Go- 
vernor Simcoe  running  for  Kingston,  and  chased  her  into 
the  harbour.  She  escaped  by  running  over  a  reef  of  rocks, 
under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  Governor  Tompkins,  the  Ha- 
milton, and  the  Julia,  which  cut  her  very  much.  All  her 
people  ran  below  while  under  the  fire  of  these  vessels.  The 
Hamilton,  chased  her  into  nine  feet  water  before  she  hauled 
off.  We  tacked  to  the  southward  with  an  intention  of  run- 
ning to  our  station  at  the  Ducks,  but  it  coming  on  to  blow 
very  heavy,  the  pilots  told  me  it  would  be  unsafe  to  keep  the 
lake.  I  bore  up  for  this  place,  where  I  arrived  last  night. 

In  our  passage  through  the  bay  of  Quanti,  I  discovered  a 
schooner  at  the  village  of  Armingstown,  which  we  took  pos- 
session of;  but  finding  she  would  detain  us  (being  then  in 
chase  of  the  Royal  George),  I  ordered  lieutenant  Macpher- 
son  to  take  out  her  sails  and  rigging,  and  burn  her,  which  he 
did.  We  also  took  the  schooner  Mary  Hall  from  Niagara, 
at  the  mouth  of  Kingston  harbour,  and  took  her  with  us  to 
our  anchorage.  The  next  morning,  finding  that  she  could  not 
beat  through  the  channel  with  us,  I  ordered  the  sailing  mas- 
ter in  the  Growler  to  take  her  under  convoy,  and  run  clown 
past  Kingston,  anchor  on  the  east  end  of  Long  Island,  antl 
wait  for  a  wind  to  come  up  on  the  east  side.  I  was  also  in 
hopes  that  the  Royal  George  might  be  induced  to  follow  for 
the  purpose  of  re-taking  our  prize,  but  her  commander  was 
too  well  aware  of  the  consequences  to  leave  his  moorings. 

We  lost  in  this  affair  one  man  killed,  and  three  slightly 
wounded,  with  a  fa,w  shot  through  our  sails.  The  other  ves- 
sels lost  -no  men,  and  received  but  little  injury  in  their  hulls 
and  sails,  with  the  exception  of  the  Pert,  whose  gunbursted 
in  the  early  part  of  the  action,  and  wounded  her  commander 
(sailing  master  Arundel)  badly,  and  a  midshipman  and  three 
men  slightly.  Mr.  Arunclel,  who  refused  to  quit  the  deck 
although  wounded,  was  knocked  overboard  in  beating  up  to 
our  anchorage,  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  was  drowned. 

The  Ro\ai  George  must  have  received  very  considerable 
injury  in  her  hull  and  in  men,  as  the  gun  vessels,  with  a  long 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [115 

ider,  were  seen  to  strike  her  almost  every  shot,  and 
it  was  observed  that  she  was  reinforced  with  men  four  dif- 
ferent times  during  the  action. 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  saying  that  the  officers  and  men  on 
board  of  every  vessel  behaved  with  the  utmost  coolness,  and 
are  extremely  anxious  to  meet  the  enemy  on  the  open  lake ; 
and  as  long  as  I  have  the  honour  to  command  such  officers 
and  such  men,  I  can  have  no  doubt  of  the  result. 

I  think  I  can  say  with  great  propriety,  that  we  have  now 
the  command  of  the  lakes,  and  that  we  can  transport  troops 
and  stores  to  any  part  of  it  without  any  risk  of  an  attack  from 
the  enemy;  although  the  whole  of  his  naval  force  was  not 
collected  at  Kingston,  yet  the  force  at  the  different  batteries 
would  more  than  counterbalance  the  vessels  that  were  absent. 
It  was  thoight  by  all  the  officers  in  the  squadron  that  the 
enemy  had  more  than  30  guns  mounted  at  Kingston,  and 
from  1000  to  1500  men.  The  Royal  George,  protected  by 
this  force,  was  driven  into  the  inner  harbour,  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  musketry,  by  the  Oneida,  and  four  small 
schooners  fitted  out  as  gun  boats ;  the  Governor  Tompkins 
not  having  been  able  to  join  in  the  action  until  about  sun- 
down, owing  to  the  lightness  of  the  winds,  and  the  Pert's 
gun  having  burst  the  second  or  third  shot. 

We  are  replacing  all  deficiencies,  and  I  shall  proceed  up 
the  lake  the  first  wind  in  the  hopes  to  fall  in  with  the  Earl 
Moira  and  the  Prince  Regent;  at  any  rate  I  shall  endeavour 
to  prevent  them  from  forming  a  junction  with  the  Royal 
George  again  this  winter.  I  shall  also  visit  Niagara  river  if 
fc practicable,  in  order  to  land  some  guns  and  stores  that  I  have 
taken  on  board  for  that  purpose.  If  the  enemv  are  still  in 
possession  of  Queenstown,  I  shall  try  to  land  them  a  few 
miles  below.  I  shall  have  the  honour  of  writing  you  more 
in  detail  upon  this  subject  on  my  return,  or  perhaps  before  I 
leave  here  if  the  wind  continue  a-head. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  obe- 
dient servant, 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


116]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

CANNONADING   BETWEEN    FORTS     GEORGE    AND    NIAC  '• 

Official  Report  to  Brigadier-General  Smyth,  commanding  the 
Army  of  the  Centre. 

Sir,  I  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  that  on  the  morning  of  the 
21st  Nov.  at  six  o'clock,  a  heavy  cannonading  opened  upon 
this  garrison  from  all  the  batteries  at  and  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Fort  George,  which  lasted  without  intermission  un- 
til sundown.  They  had  five  detached  batteries,  two  mount- 
ing 24-pounders,  one  mounting  a  nine,  and  two  mortar  bat- 
teries, one  lO*  the  other  5£  inch.  The  batteries  firing  hot 
shot,  which  set  some  of  our  buildings  on  fire,  but  from  the 
extraordinary  vigilance  of  the  officers  and  men,  particularly 
major  Armistead  of  the  United  States'  corps  oaMpgineers, 
whose  indefatigable  exertions  were  extended  to  all  parts  of 
the  garrison,  the  fires  were  got  under  without  being  observed 
by  the  enemy. 

Our  garrison  was  not  as  well  provided  with  artillery  and 
ammunition  as  I  could  have  wished — however,  the  batteries 
opened  a  tremendous  fire  upon  them,  in  return,  with  hot  shot, 
admirably  well  directed. 

Several  times  during  the  cannonading,  the  town  of  New- 
ark was  in  flames,  but  was  extinguished  by  their  engines — 
as  also  the  centre  building  in  Fort  George.  Their  mess-house 
and  all  the  buildings  near  it  were  consumed.  Captain  M'Keen 
commanded  a  twelve-pounder  in  the  S.  E.  block-house,  and 
distinguished  himself  by  his  usual  gallantry  and  skill.  Cap- 
tain Jacks,  of  the  7th  regiment  militia  artillery,  commanded  „ 
a  six-pounder  on  the  north  block -house,  and,  together  with  a 
part  of  his  own  company,  though  placed  in  a  situation  the 
most  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  maintained  their  po- 
sition like  veterans. 

Lieutenant  Rees  had  the  command  of  an  eigh teen-poun- 
der, on  the  south-east  battery,  and  also  at  Fort  George — 
several  well  directed  shots  were  made  from  this  gun,  which 
proved  the  skill  of  its  commander.  About  ten  o'clock,  lieu- 
tenant Rees  had  his  Jeft  shoulder  bruised  by  a  part  of  the 
parapet  falling  on  him — which,  though  it  did  not  materially 
injure  him,  obliged  him  to  retire,  and  captain  Leonard  of  the 
first  regiment  United  States  artillery  at  that  moment  arriving, 
he  took  the  command  of  this  battery  for  the"  remainder  of 
the  day, .  Lieutenant  Wendel,  of  the  second  regiment  artillery, 
had  the  command  of  an  18  and  four-pounder  on  the  west 
battery — and  Dr.  Hooper,  of  captain  Jack's  company  militia 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [lir 

artillery,  had  the  command  of  a  six-pounder  on  the  mess- 
house.  Of  these  gentlemen  and  their  commands  I  cannot 
speak  with  too  much  praise,  they  distinguished  themselves 
highly,  and  from  their  shot,  all  of  which  was  hot,  the  town 
of  Newark  was  repeatedly  fired,  and  one  of  the  enemy's  bat- 
teries silenced  for  a  time. 

An  instance  of  extraordinary  bravery  in  a  female  (the  wife 
of  one  Doyle,  a  private  in  the  United  States'  artillery,  made 
a  prisoner  at  Queenstown)  I  cannot  pass  over.  During  the 
most  tremendous  cannonading  I  have  ever  seen,  she  attended 
the  six-pounder  on  the  mess-house  with  red  hot  shot,  and 
showed  fortitude  equal  to  the  maid  of  Orleans.  Lieutenants 
Gansevoort  and  Harris  of  the  first  regiment  United  States 
artillery,  had  the  command  of  the  salt  battery  at  Youngstown 
mounting  an  18  and  a  four-pounder;  these  two  guns  played 
upon  the  garrison  of  Fort  George  and  the  buildings  near  it: 
from  every  observation  I  could  make  during  their  fire,  I  am 
happy  to  say  they  merited  my  warmest  thanks  for  their  skill 
in  the  service  of  these  guns.  Lieutenant  Harris  from  his 
four-pounder  sunk  a  schooner,  which  lay  at  their  wharf;  she 
as  one  of  those  taken  by  the  enemy  at  the  mouth  of  the 
enessee  river  a  short  time  since.  He  also  assisted  in  burn- 
g  and  destroying  the  buildings  near  the  wharf.  These  two 
cers  and  their  men  in  the  warmest  part  of  the  cannonad- 
ing having  fired  away  all  their  cartridges,  cut  up  their  flannel 
aistcoats  and  shirts,  and  the  soldiers  their  trowsers,  to  sup- 
y  their  guns. 

I  cannot  say  too  much  in  praise  of  all  the  officers  and  sol- 
diers of  the  artillery  immediately  under  my  observation,  in 
this  garrison;  they  meritthe  thanks  and  esteem  of  their  coun- 
try for  the  defence  of  it,  and  I  believe  it  never  sustained  so 
sharp  and  continued  a  bombardment. 

The  enemy  threw  more  than  two  thousand  red  hot  balls 
into  it,  and  a  number  of  shells  amounting  to  more  than  180, 
only  one  of  which  did  injury  to  our  men. 

Lieutenant-colonel  Gray  commanded  the  artillery ;  the  un- 
remitting attention  paid  to  his  duty,  proves  him  an  officer 
whose  zeal  and  science  do  honour  to  himself  and  country : 
to  this  gentleman  I  feel  much  indebted  for  the  manner  he 

f  quitted  himself. 
To  the  officers  of  my  regiment  (particularly  captain  Milli- 
gan)  and  the  soldiers  who  assisted  the  artillery,  and  those 
employed  in  extinguishing  the  fires  and  carrying  off  the  kill- 
ed and  wounded,   I  am  also  much  indebted  ;  they  merit  my 
armest  thanks.     To  Dr.  West  of  the  garrison,  Dr.  Hugan 

VOL,- I.    PART  II.  [R] 


118]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

of  the  14th  regiment  United  States1  infcintry,  and  Dr.  Craige, 
of  the  22cl  regiment  United  States'  infantry,  I  offer  my 
thanks.  They  were  employed  during  the  entire  day  in  the 
most  critical  duties  of  their  profession. 

Our  killed  and  wounded  amount  to  eleven. 

Killed — Serjeant  Jones,  first  regiment  United  States'  artil- 
lery ;  Salisbury,  2d  do.  do.  do. — Privates,  Stewart,  22d  do. 

United  States'  infantry;  Lewis,  first  do.  United  States' ar- 
'ii 
tillery. 

Wo unded-*-Q fficer 's,  lieutenant  Thomas,  22d  regiment  Uni- 
ted States' infantry — Privates,  Boman,  14th  do.  do.  M'Evoy, 
first  do.  do.  Campbell,  first  do.  do.  Welsh,  first  do.  do.  Ray, 
third  do.  do.  Woodsworth,  seventh  do.  militia  artillery. 

From  the  number  we  saw  carried  off  from  the  enemy's 
batteries,  I  presume  many  more  were  killed  and  wounded  on 
their  side. 

Only  two  of  the  above  men  were  killed  by  the  enemy's 
shot,  the  rest  by  the  bursting  of  a  12-pounder  in  S.  E.  block- 
house, and  by  the  spunges  of  the  guns  on  the  north  block- 
house, and  at  the  Salt  battery. 

GEO.  M'FEELEY, 
Lieutenant- Colonel  commanding  Fort  Niagara. 


VERAL   SMYTH  S   EXPEDITION. 

Official  Letter  from  General  Smyth  io  Major-General  Dear- 
born, respecting  the  failure  cf  his  projected  enterprise 
against  Canada. 

Camp  near  Bujfaloe,  8th  December,  1812. 

Sir,  the  troops  under  my  command  having  been  ordered 
to  hut  themselves  for  the  winter,  it  becomes  my  duty  to  re- 
port to  you  the  proceedings  had  there  since  I  took  the  com- 
mand on  this  frontier. 

On  or  about  the  26th  of  October,  I  ordered  that  20  scows 
should  be  prepa)-ed  for  the  transportation  of  the  artillery 
and  cavalry,  and  put  the  carpenters  of  the  army  on  that  duty. 

On  the  26th  of  November  ten  scows  were  completed,  and 
by  bringing  boats  from  lake  Ontario,  the  number  was  in- 
creased to  seventy. 

I  had  issued  an  address  to  the  men  of  the  state  of  New 
York,  and  perhaps  .100  volunteers  had  arrived  at  Buffaloe.  I 
presumed  that  the  regular  troops,  and  the  volunteers  under 
colonels  Swift  and  M'Clure,  would  furnish  2300  men  for  duty; 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [119 

and  of  general  Tannehill's  brigade,  reporting  a  total  of  1650 
as  many  as  413  had  volunteered  to  cross  into  .Canada.  I 
deemed  myself  readv  to  cross  "with  3000  men  at  once," 
according  to  your  orders. 

Preparatory  thereto,  on  the  night  of  the  27th  November, 
I  sent  over  two  parties;  one  under  lieutenant-colonel  Bcerst- 
ler;  the  other  under  captain  King,  with  whom  lieutenant 
Angus  of  the  navy,  at  the  head  of  a  bodv  of  seamen,  united. 
The  first  mentioned  party  was  to  capture  a  guard  and  destroy 
a  bridge  about  five  miles  below  Fort  Erie  ;  the  second  party 
were  to  take  and  render  useless  the  cannon  of  the  enemy's 
batteries  and  some  pieces  of  light  artillery.  The  first  party 
made  some  prisoners,  but  failed  to  destroy  the  bridge;  the 
second  party,  after  rendering  unserviceable  the  light  artil- 
lery, separated  by  some  misapprehension.  Lieutenant  An- 
gus, the  seamen,  and  a  part  of  the  troops  returned  with  all 
the  boats,  while  captains  King,  Morgan,  Sproul,  lieutenant. 
Houston  and  about  60  men,  remained;  captain  King,  notwith- 
standing, with  those  under  his  command,  advanced  to  the 
enemy's  batteries,  attacked  and  took  two  of  them  in  succes- 
sion, rendered  unserviceable  the  cannon,  and  took  a  number 
of  prisoners.  In  descending  the  Niagara  some  distance, 
two  boats  were  found,  on  board  of  which  captain  King  sent 
his  prisoners,  all  his  officers,  and  half  Of  his  men.  His  high 

rise  of  honour  would  not  allow  him  to  quit  the  remainder. 

e  was  captured  with  them. 

Orders  had  been  given  that  all  the  troops  in  the  neighbour- 
hood should  march  at 'reveille  to  the  place  of  embarkation.  A 
part  of  the  detachment  sent  in  the  nighi  having  returned,  and 
excited  apprehensions  for  the  residue  •  about  350  men  under 
colonel  Winder,  put  off  in  boats  for  the  opposite  shore  ;  a 
part  of  this  force  had  landed,  when  a  superior  force,  with  a 
piece  of  artillery,  appeared.  A  retreat  was  ordered,  and  co- 
lonel Winder's  detachment  suffered  a  loss  of  6  killed  and  22 
wounded,  of  whom  6  were  officers. 

The  general  embarkation  commenced  as  the  troops  arrived; 
but  this  being  the  first  time  the  troops  had  embarked,  the 
whole  of  the  scows  were  occupied  by  about  one-third  part  of 
the  artillery,' while  about  800  regular  infantry,  something  up- 
wards of  200  twelve-months'  volunteers,  and  perhaps  200  of 
those  militia  who  had  volunteered  their  services  for  a  fe\v 
days,  occupied  all  the  boats  that  w-re  ready.  The  troops 
thus  embarked  moved  up  the  stream  to  Black  Rock,  without 
sustaining  loss  from  the  enemy's  fire.  It  was  now  afternoon, 
and  they  were  ordered  to  disembark  and  dine. 


120]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

The  enemy  showed  a  force  estimated  at  5  or  60O  men 
drawn  up  in  a  field  at  some  distance  from  the  river;  and  had 
one  piece  of  artillery,  said  to  be  a  nine-pounder,  ready  to  fire 
on  our  troops. 

There  remained  unembarked  a  part  of  the  artillery,  a  few 
cavalry,  the  volunteers  under  colonel  M'Clure,  amounting  on 
that  day  to  340  men,  a  detachment  from  general  Tannehill's 
brigade,  number  unknown  and  little  relied  on.  There  were 
also  sundry  crowds  who  might  perhaps  have  followed  the 
army  had  it  been  successful. 

Recollecting  your  instructions  "to  cross  with  300O  men 
at  once  ;"  and  to  consult  some  of  mv  principal  officers  in  "  all 
important  movements ;"  I  called  for  the  field  officers  of  the 
regulars  and  twelve-months'  volunteers  embarked.  Colonel 
Porter  not  being  found  at  the  moment,  captain  Gibson  was 
called  as  the  senior  officer  of  artillery. 

These  questions  were  put — Is  it  expedient  now  to  cross 
over?  Is  the  force  we  have  sufficient  to  conquer  the  oppo- 
site coast? 

The  first  question  was  decided  in  the  negative,  by  colonels 
Parker,  Schuyler,  Winder,  lieutenant-colonels  Boerstler  and 
Coles,  and  major  Campbell.  Colonel  Swift  of  volunteers, 
alone  gave  an  opinion  for  then  crossing  over. 

The  second  question  was  not  decided — Colonel  Parker, 
colonel  Schuyler,  lieutenant-colonel  Coles,  and  major  Camp- 
bell, were  decidedly  of  opinion  the  force  was  insufficient. 
Colonel  Winder,  colonel  Swift,  lieutenant-colonel  Bcerstler, 
and  captain  Gibson  deemed  the  force  sufficient. 

I  determined  to  postpone  crossing  over  until  more  com- 
plete preparations  would  enable  me  to  embark  the  whole  force 
at  once,  according  to  your  instructions. 

The  next  day  was  spent  in  such  preparations  ;  and  the 
troops  were  ordered  to  be  again  at  the  place  of  embarkation 
at  eight  o'clock  on  the  30th  November.  On  their  arrival  they 
were  sent  into  the  adjacent  woods,  there  to  build  fires,  and 
remain  until  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  }st  Decem- 
ber, when  it  was  intended  to  put  off  two  hours  before  day- 
light, so  as  to  avoid  the  fire  of  the  eneim  's  cannon,  in  pass- 
ing the  position  which  it  was  believed  they  occupied  below; 
to  land  above  Chippewa,  aftsault  that  place,  and,  if  successful, 
march  through  Queenstown  for  Fort  George.  The  contrac- 
tor was  called  on  to  furnish  rations  for  250O  men  for  four 
days,  when  it  was  found  he  could  furnish  the  pork  but  not  the 
flour.  Sixty  barrels  were  required,  and  only  thirty-five  fur- 
nished. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [121 

. 

The  embarkation  commenced,  but  was  delayed  by  circum- 
stances, so  as  not  to  be  completed  until  day -light,  when  it  was 
found  that  the  regular  infantry  688  men,  the  artillery  1 77,  co- 
lonel Swift's  volunteers  amounting  to  230,  six  companies  of 
federal  volunteers  amounting  to  276  men,  about  100  militia 
of  colonel  Dobbin's  regiment^  and  a  few  men  in  a  boat  with 
Mr.  P.  B.  Porter,  contractor's  agent,  who  was  to  pilot  the 
enterprise,  had  embarked ;  the  whole  on  board,  without  the 
commissioned  officers,  being  1500  men,  or  thereabouts:  and 
it  was  now  two  hours  later  than  the  time  fixed  on  for  setting 
out.  There  were  some  groups  of  men  not  yet  embarked ; 
thev  were  applied  to,  requested,  and  ordered  by  the  brigade- 
major,  to  get  into  the  boats  ;  they  did  not:  he  estimated  their 
number  at  150;  it  was  probably  greater. 

It  then  became  a  question  whether  it  \vas  expedient  to  in- 
vade Canada,  in  open  day-light,  with  1500  men,  at  a  point 
where  no  reinforcements  could  be  expected  for  some  days.  I 
saw  that  the  number  of  regular  troops  was  declining  rapidly. 
I  knew  that  on  them  chiefly  I  was  to  depend. 

I  called  together  the  officers  commanding  corps  of  the  re- 
gular armv.  Colonel  Parker  being  sick,  those  present  were 
colonel  Porter  of  the  artillery,  colonel  Schuyler,  colonel  Win- 
der, and  lieutenant-colonel  Coles.  I  put  to  them  this  ques- 
tion :  Shall  we  proceed  ?  They  unanimously  decided  that  we 
ought  not. 

I  foresaw  that  the  volunteers  who  had  come  out  for  a  few 
days  would  disperse.  Several  of  them  had,  on  the  evening 
of  "the  28th,  broken  their  muskets  because  they  had  not  seen 
a  battle.  I  foresaw  that  the  number  of  regular  troops  would 
decrease,  the  measles  affected  them  generally;  the  constant 
use  of  fresh  meat  had  produced  dysenteries  ;  ancl  they  were 
now  in  tents  in  the  month  of  De^mber.  I  informed  the  of- 
ficers that  the  attempt  to  invade  Canada  would  not  be  made 
until  the  army  was  reinforced  ;  and  directed  them  to  with- 
draw their  troops,  and  cover  them  with  huts  immediately. 

The  volunteers  and  neighbouring  people  were  dissatisfied, 
and  it  has  been  in  the  power  of  the  contractor's  agent  to  ex- 
cite some  clamour  against  the  course  pufsued.  He  finds  the 
contract  a  losing  one  at  this  time ;  and  would  wish  to  see  the 
armv  in  Canada,  that  he  might  not  be  bound  to  supply  it. 

I  arn  sorry  the  situation  of  the  force  under  my  command 
had  not  been  such  as  to  make  the  propriety  of  a  fonvard 
movement  obvious  to  all.  Circumstanced  as  we  were,  I  have 
thought  it  my  duty  to  follow  the  cautious  counsels  of  expe- 
rie'nce,  and  not  precipitation,  to  add  to  the  list  of  our  defeats. 


122]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

You  will  perceive  mv  motives  by  my  letter  of  the  30th  of 
Or toher,  wherein  I  said,  UI  would  cross  in  three  davs,  if  I 
had  the  means.  Without  them  it  would  be  injustice  to  the  na- 
tion and  mvself  to  attempt  it.  I  must  not  be  defeated." 

Allow  me  to  recommend  to  your  attention  and  that  of  the 
secretary  at  war,  captain  William  King  of  the  13th  infantry, 
as  an  officer  of  the  first  class.  His  dauntless  bravery,  refined 
mind,  high  sense  of  honour,  and  ambition  to  distinguish  him- 
self, render  him  a  fit  subject  for  promotion,  and  he  is  perhaps 
the  best  disciplinarian  in  the  army. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  perfect  respect,  sir,  your 
most  obedient,  ALEXANDER  SMYTH, 

Brigadier-General. 
Major-General  Dearborn. 

Statement  of  the  number  of  troops  embarked  on  the  morning  of 
the  1st  of  December,  on  the  Niagara  river,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Brigadier-General  Smyth. 

From  official  returns — 12th  and  20th  infantry  214;  5th  and 
13th  infantrv  271  ;  14th  and  23d  infantry  214;  artillery  177: 
colonel  M'GlUre's  volunteers  276. 

By  estimate — Colonel  Swift's  volunteers  230 ;  tv.-o  compa- 
nies of  Dobbins' regiment  100;  with  general  Porter  30. — 
Total  1512. 

I  certify  that  the  strength  of  the  12th,  20th,  5th,  13th,  14th 
and  23d  infantrv,, the  artillery,  and  colonel  M'Clure's  volun- 
teers embarked,  are  stated  from  official  returns,  and  that  no 
other  troops  than  the  above  were  embarked  when  the  enter- 
prise was  abandoned.  JAMES  BANKHEAD, 

Captain  a?::, 


INDIAN    WARFARE. 

The  following  documents  contain  all  the  official  intelligence 
which  has  appeared  respecting  the  Indian  War.  The  first 
letter  contains  the  account  of  an  expedition  from  Geor- 
gia against  the  Florida  Indians.  The  others  contain  the 
proceedings  of  various  detachments  of  the  North- Wes- 
tern Army,  under  General  Harrison. 

Letter  from  Colonel  Nervnan  to  hi*  Excellency  David  B.  Mit- 
chell, Governor  of  Georgia. 

New- Hope,  St.  John's,  Oct.  19,  1812. 
D'-ar  sir,  I  have  now  the  honour  of  transmitting  to  your 
excellency  an  account  of  the  several  engagements  which  have 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [123 

taken  place  Between  the  Lotchaway  and  Alligator  Indians, 
and  the  detachment  of  Georgia  volunteers  under  my  com- 
mand. As  the  object  of  this  expedition,  and  the  views  of  the 
persons  engaged  irt  it,  have  been  misconstrued,  and  mis-state- 
ments, relative  to  its  protraction  circulated,  I  ask  the  indul- 
gence of  ypur  excellency  to  detail  every  transaction  from  its 
commencement  to  its  termination. 

I  arrived  upon  St.  John's,  in  obedience  to  your  orders, 
about  the  15th  of  August,  with  the  whole  of  my  detachment, 
consisting  (including  officers)  of  about  250  men,  and  with  few 
on  the  sick  report.  I  immediately  waited  on  colonel  Smith, 
before  Augustine,  and  received  orders  dated  the  21st  of  Au- 
gust, to  proceed  immediately  against  the  hostile  Indians  with- 
in the  province  of  East  Florida,  and  destroy  their  towns, 
provisions,  and  settlements.  I  then  returned  to  the  detach- 
ment upon  the  St.  John's,  and  made  every  preparation  to 
comply  with  my  orders,  by  despatching  parties  to  procure 
horses  from  the  few  inhabitants  that  had  not  fled  from  jhe 
province,  in  preparing  packs  and  provisions,  and  taking  ev> 
step  which  I  deemed  necessary  to  insure  success  to  the  en- 
terprise. In  consequence  of  the  sickness  of  myself  and  near- 
ly one  half  of  the  detachment,  the  period  of  our  marching4 
was  delayed  until  the  24th  of  September ;  and  when  just  upon 
the  eve  of  departing,  an  express  arrived  from  colonel  Smith 
informing  me  that  his  provision  waggons  and  the  escort  was 
attacked  by  a  body  of  Negroes  and  Indians,  and  ordering  me 
to  join  him  immediately  with  90  men,  and  bring  all  the 
horses  and  carriages  I  could  command,  for  the  removal  of 
his  baggage,  field-pieces,  and  sick,  he  having  orilv  70  men  fit 
for  duty.  I  marched  to  the  relief  of  the  colonel  with  130 
men  and  25  horses,  and  assisted  him  in  removing  to  the 
block-house  upon  Davis's  creek.  This  service  delayed  for 
a  few  days  our  expedition  to  the  nation  ;  and  when  the  de- 
tachment again  assembled  upon  the  St.  John's,  and  v,  ere  about, 
to  commence  their  march,  the  men  had  but  six  or  seven  days 
to  serve.  About  this  time  I  received  a  letter  from  colonel 
Smith,  advising  me  to  propose  to  the  detachment  an  exten- 
sion of  their  service  for  15  or  2O  days  longer,  as  the  time  for 
which  they  were  engaged  was  deemed  insufficient  to  accom- 
plish any  object  of  the  expedition.  This  measure  I  had  con- 
templated, and  its  sanction  by  the  colonel  met  with  my  most, 
hearty  approbation  ;  for  I  was  unwilling  to  proceed  to  an  ene- 
my's country  Avith  a  single  man,  who  would  declare,  that,  in 
any  event,  he  would  not  serve  a  day  longer  than  the  time  for 
which  he  had  originally  'volunteered.  I  accordingly  assem- 


124]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

bled  the  detachment,  and  after  stating  the  necessity  of  a  ten- 
der of  further  service,  proposed  that  the  men  should  volun- 
teer for  three  weeks  longer ;  when  84  men,  including  officers, 
stepped  out 'and  were  enrolled,  which,  with  the  addition  of 
23  volunteer  militia  sent  to  my  aid  by  colonel  Smith,  and 
nine  patriots  under  the  command  of  captain  Cone,  made  my 
whole  force  amount  to  117.  With  this  small  body, 'provided 
with  four  days'  provisions  and  12  horses,  I  was  determined  to 
proceed  to  the  nation  and  give  those  merciless  savages  at 
least  one  battle;  and  I  was  emboldened  in  this  determination 
by  the  strong  expectation  of  being  succoured  by  a  body  of  ca- 
valry from  St.  Mary's,  and  which  it  has  since  appeared  did 
assemble  at  Colerain,  but  proceeded  no  farther.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  24th  of  September,  we  left  the  St.  John's,  march- 
ing in  Indian  file,  captain  Humphrey's  company  of  riflemen 
in  front,  captain  Fort's  company,  under  the  command  of  lieu- 
tenant Fannin,  in  the  centre,  and  captain  Coleman's  com- 
pa»T,  with  Cone's  detachment,  under  the  command  of  lieu- 
-  nt  Broadnax,  in  the  rear.  A  small  party  marched  in  front 
of  the  main  body,  and  another  in  the  rear ;  the  openness  of 
the  country  (except  in  particular  places)  rendered  it  unneces- 
sary toemploy  men  upon  the  right  and  left.  Our  encampment 
of  nights  (there  being  three  companies)  w  is  in  the  form  of  a 
triangle,  with  the  baggage  in  the  centre,  the  men  with  their 
clothes  on,  lying  with  their  feet  pointing  outwards,  and  their 
fire-locks  in  their  arms.  In  case  of  an  attack,  the  officers 
were  instructed  to  bring  up  their  companies  upon  the  right 
and  left  of  the  company  fronting  the  enemy,  and  attend  to 
the  Indian  mode  of  fighting  until  ordered  to  charge.  In  case 
of  meeting  the  enemy  upon  our  march,  Humphrey's  com- 
pany was  instructed  to  file  off  to  the  right,  Fort's  company 
to  advance  and  form  to  the  front  in  single  rank,  and  Cole- 
man's company  to  file  off  to  the  left;  the  whole  then  to  ad- 
vance in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  and  endeavour  to  encircle  the 
enemy.  On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day  of  our  march, 
when  within  six  or  seven  miles  of  the  Lotchaway  towns,  our 
advance  party  discovered  a  body  of  Indians  marching  along 
the  path  meeting  us,  and  at  the  same  moment  they  appeared 
to  have  discovered  us.  As  soon  as  I  was  informed  of  it,  I 
lost  no  time  in  giving  the  necessary  directions  for  the  com- 
panies to  advance,  and  obey  the  instructions  which  had  been 
previously  given  to  them,  and  which  appeared  exactly  suited 
to  the  situation  in  which  we  found  the  enemy.  As  soon  as 
Fort's  company  (at  the  head  of  which  I  had  placed  mvself) 
had  advanced  to  its  proper  ground,  I  discovered  the  Indians 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [125 

tailing  back,  and  making  every  preparation  for  battle,  by  un- 
slinging  their  packs,  trimming  their  rifles,  and  each  man 
taking  his  place.  We  continued  to  advance,  taking  advan- 
tage of  the  trees  in  our  progress,  until  we  were  within 
130  yards  of  the  Indians,  when  many  of  them  fired,  and 
I  instantly  ordered  the  charge,  which  drove  them  from  be- 
hind the  trees,  and  caused  them  to  retire  with  the  greatest 
precipitation;  our  men  all  the  while  firing  at  them,  slew  se- 
veral, and  by  repeated  charges,  drove  them  half  a  mile,  when 
they  took  shelter  in  the  swamp.  It  unfortunately  happened 
(I  presume  through  inadvertence), that  Humphrey's  company 
in  filing  to  the  right  took  too  great  a  circuit,  got  a  small 
swamp  between  them  and  the  enemy,  and  thereby  rendered 
the  victory  less  decisive  than  it  would  have  been,  had  the 
whole  charged  together,  and  before  the  Indians  had  dipersed 
themselves,  and  extended  their  force  (which  they  soon  did) 
near  half  a  mile  up  and  down  the  swamp.  The  company, 
however,  was  of  service  afterwards  in  preventing  the  enemy, 
after  their  dispersion,  from  entering  our  camp,  retaking  their 
baggage  and  provision  (all  of  which  fell  into  our  hands),  or 
falling  upon  the  wounded,  that  had  been  sent  to  the  rear. 
The  action,  including  the  skirmishing  upon  the  flanks,  lasted 
two  hours  and  a  half,  the  Indians  frequently  attempting  to 
outflank  us  and  get  in  our  rear,  but  were  repulsed  by  the 
companies  extending  to  the  right  and  left.  We  had  one  man 
killed  and  nine  wounded,  two  of  which  have  since  died  of 
their  wounds.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  must  have  been  con- 
siderable. I  saw  seven  fall  to  the  ground  with  my  own  eyes, 
among  whom  was  their  king,  Payne  ;  two  of  them  fell  near 
the  swamp,  the  rest  our  men  had  the  curiosity  to  scalp. 
The  rifle  company  on  the  right,  and  Broadnax's  on  the  left, 
speak  of  killing  several  near  the  swamp,  who  were  borne  off 
by  their  comrades,  it  being  a  principle  among  the  savages  to 
carry  off  their  dead  at  the_  risk  of  their  lives.  We  remained 
on  the  battle  ground  watching  the  movements  of  the  Indians, 
who  were  near  the  swamp  painting  themselves,  and  appeared 
to  be  in  consultation,  all  of  which  indicated  an  intention  to 
renew  the  combat.  Accordingly,  a  half  an  hour  before  sun- 
set, having  obtained  a  considerable  reinforcement  of  negroes 
and  Indians  from  their  towns,  they  commenced  the  most 
horrid  yells  imaginable,  in  imitating  the  cries  and  noise  of 
almost  every  animal  of  the  forest,  their  chiefs  advancing  in 
front  in  a  stooping  serpentine  manner,  and  making  the  most 
wild  and  frantic  gestures,  until  they  approached  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  us,  when  they  halted  and  commenced 

roi..  I.  PART  II.  [S] 


126]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

firing.  Our  men  were  not  to  be  alarmed  by  their  noise  and 
yells,  but,  as  instructed,  remained  perfectly  still  and  steady 
behind  logs  and  trees  until  the  enemy  by  this  forbearance  had 
approached  somewhat  nearer,  when  a  brisk  and  well  directed 
fire  from  our  line  soon  drove  thum  back  to  their  original 
ground.  I  would  now  have  ordered  the  charge,  but  being 
under  the  necessity,  from  the  extension  of  the  enemy's  line, 
of  detaching  nearly  one-half  of  my  force  to  protect  our  camp 
and  wounded  (the  assailing  of  which  is  a  great  object  with 
Indians),  I  was  left  to  contend  with  a  force  three  times  as  nu- 
merous as  my  own.  The  action  lasted  until  eight  o'clock, 
when  the  enemy  were  completely  repulsed  in  every  attempt 
whether  made  upon  our  centre  or  flanks.  We  had  two  men 
killed  and  one  wounded ;  the  enemy  carried  off  several  of 
their  menbefore-it  was  dark — after  which  all  firing  (of  course 
random)  was  at  the  spot  from  whence  the  flash  arose.  After 
fighting  and  fasting  the  whole  day,  we  had  to  work  through- 
out the  night,  and  at  day-light  had  a  tolerable  breast-work  of 
logs  and  earth,  with  port  holes,  on  the  ground  on  which  the 
battle  was  fought.  We  were  reduced  to  this  necessity,  for  in 
despatching  captain  Whitaker  about  dark  to  St.  John's  for  a 
reinforcement,  six  more  men  took  the  liberty  to  accompany 
him,  taking  with  them  our  best  horses :  our  pilot  and  surgeon 
(who  was  sick)  was  among  the  number.  The  two  days  suc- 
ceeding the  battle,  we  neither  saw  nor  heard  any  thing  of  the 
enemv,  but  on  the  evening  of  the  third  day  they  commenced 
firing  at  our  work  at  a  long  distance,  and  renewed  it  every 
day  for  five  or  six  davs,  but  without  killing  or  wounding  any 

of  our  men After  killing  two  or   three  of  them  through 

our  port  holes,  they  seldom  came  within  gun-shot.  Seven  or 
eight  days  had  now  elapsed  since  our  express  had  kft  us,  hun- 
gt-t  was  staring  us  in  the  face,  and  we  were  now  reduced  to 
the  necessity  of  eating  one  of  our  horses  ;  we  had  no  surgeon 
to  dress  the  wounded,  and  apprehensions  were  entertained 
that  the  enemy  would  receive  reinforcements  from  Augustine 
or  the  Makasukie  Indians.  Expecting  relief  every  hour,  I 
was  unwilling  to  leave  our  breast-works  while  we  had  a  horse 
left  to  eat,  but  understood  from  some  of  mv  officers  that  a 
certain  captain  was  determined  to  leave  us  with  his  company, 
and  that  many  of  the  men,  giving  up  all  hopes  of  relief,  talked 
of  deserting  in  the  night  rather  than  perish  or  fall  a  sacrifice 
to  the  merciless  negroes  and  Indians,  whom  they  were  taught 
to  believe  would  surround  us  in  great  numbers  in  a  few  days. 
In  this  trying  situation,  when  our  few  remaining  horses  were. 
:  down  by  them,  and  the  number  of  our  sick  daily  in- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [127 

creasing,  I  reluctantly  assented  to  leave  our  works  that  night, 
and  directed  the  litters  to  he  prepared  to  cam-  the  wound- 
ed. About  nine  o'clock  we  commenced  our  distressing  march, 
carrying  five  wounded  men  in  litters,  and  supporting  two  or 
three  more.  We  had  not  proceeded  more  than  eight  miles, 
when  the  men  became  perfectlv  exhausted  from  hunger  and  fa- 
tigue, and  were  unable  to  carry  the  wounded  any  farther.  About 
two  hours  after  we  left  our  breast  -works,  25  horsemen,  with 
provisions,  arrived  to  our  relief,  on  a  different  road  from  the 
one  we  had  taken,  but,  from  motives  best  known  to  them- 
selves, instead  of  following  us,  returned  to  St.  John's,  ar-d 
we  were  left  to  encounter  new  diffi  ultii-s,  two  men  that  I  had 
despatched  on  the  path  the  horsemen  came,  by  some  means 
or  other  missing  them.  We  again  constructed  a  place  of  de- 
fence, and  I  despatched  Serjeant- major  Reese  with  one  pri- 
vate to  Pirolata,  to  learn  what  had  occasioned  the  delay  of 
our  expected  supplies,  and  told  him  I  should  remain  where  I 
was  until  I  could  hear  from  him,  and  endeavour  to  procure 
cattle,  as  we  discovered  signs  of  their  being  near  us. 

The  evil  genius  of  captain again  prevailed,  and  I  have 

since  learned  from  captain  Cone,  that  this  person  instigated 
not  only  him,  but  many  of  the  privates  to  urge  a  departure 
from  our  works  even  in  the  day-time,  when  I  was  convinced 
that  the  Indians  knowing  our  weak  situation  would  endea- 
vour to  ambuscade.  This  gentleman  if  innocent  will  have 
an  opportunity  of  proving  himself  so  before  a  court  martial. 
With  a  burning  fever  on  me,  and  scarcely  able  to  walk,  the 
march  was  ordered  about  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  I  had 
directed  the  adjutant,  captain  Hardin,  to  march  in  front,  to 
avoid  all  places  where  there  could  be  an  ambuscade,  and  the 
litters  should  be  distributed  among  the  different  companies. 
Being  extremely  weak  I  marched  in  the  rear  with  captain 

,  (who  carried  mv  firelock)  lieutenant  Fannin,  and  about 

15  or  20  privates.  We  had  scarcely  marched  five  miles  be- 
fore the  front  of  the  detachment  discovered  the  heads  of  se- 
veral Indians  on  both  sides  of  the  path,  from  among  several 
pine  trees  that  were  laid  prostrate  bv  the  hurricane;  the  same 
instant,  the  enemy  fired  upon  our  advanced  partv,  and  shot 
down  four  of  them  ;  one,  a  Spaniard,  died  on  the  spot,  and 
two  survived  a  few  days  ;  my  negro  boy  was  one  of  them. 
The  moment  I  heard  the  firing  I  ordered  the  detachment  to 
charge,  and  the  Indians  were  completely  defeated  in  15  mi- 
nutes, many  of  them  dropping  their  guns,  and  the  whole 
running  off  without  ever  attempting  to  rally.  Four  were  left 
dead  on  the  field,  and  I  am  convinced,  from  the  constant  fire 


128]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

we  kept  up,  that  many  more  must  have  been  slain,  l>Ht  were 
hid  from  our  view  by  the  thick  and  high  Palmetto  bushes. 
"WV  lay  on  the  battle  ground  all  night,  and  started  next  day 
at  1O  o'clock,  marched  five  miles,  and  again  threw  up  breast- 
works between  two  ponds,  living  upon  gophers,  alligators, 
and  palmetto  stocks,  until  serjeant-major  Reese  arrived  with 
provisions,  and  14  horses,  when  we  were  enabled  to  proceed 
to  St.  John's  with  all  our  sick  and  wounded,  where  a  gun- 
boat by  the  direction  of  colonel  Smith  was  in  waiting  for  us, 
which  conveved  us  to  his  camp,  where  we  met  with  every 
attention  that  humanity  or  benevolence  could  bestow.  I 
cannot  refrain  from  here  expressing  the  high  sense  I  have  of 
the  care  and  anxiety  which  colonel  Smith  has  manifested  for 
the  detachment  under  my  command,  and  his  promptitude  in 
affording  every  aid  in  his  power,  when  apprized  of  our  situ- 
ation. My  pen  can  scarcely  do  justice  to  the  merits  of  the 
brave  officers  and  men  under  my  command,  their  fortitude 
under  all  their  privations  and  distresses  never  forsaking  them. 
Captain  Hamilton  (who  volunteered  as  a  private,  his  com- 
pany having  left  him  at  the  expiration  of  their  term),  lieute- 
nant Fannin,  ensign  Hamilton,  and  adjutant  Harden,  distin- 
guished themselves  in  a  particular  manner,  being  always 
among  the  first  to  charge,  and  first  in  pursuit ;  Serjeants  Holt 
and  Attaway  likewise  acted  very  bravely,  and  Fort's  com- 
pany in  general  (being  always  near  me,  and  under  my  imme- 
diate view)  advanced  to  the  charge  with  the  steadiness  of 
veterans.  Lieutenant  Broadnax  s,howed  a  great  deal  of  cou- 
rage and  presence  of  mind,  and  ensign  Mann,  who  was 
wounded  in  the  first  action,  fought  well.  Captain  Cone,  who 
was  wounded  in  the  head  earlv  in  the  action,  behaved  well, 
and  lieutenant  Williams  did  himself  great  honour  in  every 
action,  but  particularly  in  the  bold  and  manly  stand  he  made 
in  the  night  engagement.  Serjeant  Hawkins  and  corporal 
Neil  of  Coleman's  company  acted  like  soldiers,  and  serjeant- 
major  Reese's  activity  was  only  surpassed  by  his  courage ; 
he  was  every  where  and  always  brave.  Captain  Humphreys' 
company  acted  bravely,  particularly  lieutenant  Reed,  serjeant 
Fields,  serjeant  Cowan,  serjeant  Denmark,  and  many  of  the 
privates.  I  can  only  speak  of  captain  Humphreys  from  the 
report  of  some  of  his  men,  who  say  he  acted  well ;  it  so  hap- 
pening he  never  met  my  eye  during  either  of  the  engage- 
ments, while  the  conduct  of  every  other  person  that  I  have 
mentioned  (except  one  or  two)  came  under  my  personal  ob- 
servation. The  number  of  Indians  in  the  first  engagement, 
from  every  circumstance  that  appeared,  must  have  been  from 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [129 

75  to  100.  In  the  second  engagement  their  number  (includ- 
ing negroes,  who  are  their  best  soldiers)  w.is  double  ours, 
and  in  the  third  engagement  there  appeared  to  be  50,  which 
was  nearly  equal  to  our  force,  after  deducting  the  sick  and 
wounded.— From  every  circumstance  I  am  induced  to  be- 
lieve that  the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  among  the  In- 
dians must  be  at  least  50. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

.DANIEL  NEWNAN. 
His  Excellency  David  B.  Mitchell. 

Letter  from  Caflt.  Z.  Taylor,  commanding  Fort  Harrison,  In- 
diana Territory,  to  General  Harrison. 

Fort  Harrison,  September  1O. 

Dear  sir,  on  Thursday  evening  the  3d  instant,  after  re- 
treat beating,  four  guns  were  heard  to  fire  in  the  direction 
where  two  young  men  (citizens  who  resided  here)  were 
making  hay,  about  40O  yards  distance  from  the  fort.  I  was 
immediately  impressed  with  an  idea  that  they  were  killed  by 
the  Indians,  as  the  Miamies  or  Weas  had  that  day  inform- 
ed me  that  the  prophet's  party  would  soon  be  here  for  the 
purpose  of  commencing  hostilities  ;  and  that  they  had  been 
directed  to  leave  this  place,  which  they  were  about  to  do.  I 
did  not  think  it  prudent  to  send  out  at  that  late  hour  of  the 
night  to  see  what  had  become  of  them;  and  their  not  coming- 
in  convinced  me  that  I  was  right  in  my  conjecture.  I  waited 
until  8  o'clock  next  morning,  when  I  sent  out  a  corporal  with 
a  small  party  to  find  them,  if  it  could  be  done  without  run- 
ning too  much  risk  of  being  drawn  into  an  ambuscade.  He 
soon  sent  back  to  inform  me,  that  he  had  found  them  both 
killed,  and  wished  to  know  my  further  orders  ;  I  sent  the 
car.t  and  oxen,  had  them  brought  in  and  buried ;  they  had 
been  each  shot  with  two  balls,  scalped,  and  cut  in  the  most 
shocking  manner.  Late  in  the  evening  of  the  4th  instant, 
old  Joseph  Lenar  and  between  30  and  4O  Indians  arrived 
from  the  prophet's  town,  with  a  white  flag;  among  whom 
were  about  1O  women,  and  the  men  Avere  composed  of  chiefs 
of  the  different  tribes  that  compose  the  prophet's  party.  A 
Shawanoe  man,  that  spoke  good  English,  informed  me  that 
old  Lenar  intended  to  speak  to  me  next  morning,  and  try  to 
get  something  to  eat.  At  retreat  beating  I  examined  the 
men's  arms,  and  found  them  all  in  good  order,  and  completed 
their  cartridges  to  16  rounds  per  man.  As  I  had  not  been 
able  to  mount  a  guard  of  more  than  six  privates  and  two 


130]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

non-rommissionecl  officers,   for  some  time   past,   and  some- 
times part  of  them  everv  other  dnv,  from   the   unhealthiness 
of  the  compam — I  had  not  conceived  mv  force  adequate   to 
the  d'.fence  of  this  nost  should  it  he  vigorously  attacked,  for 
some  time  past.     As  I  had  just  recovered  from   a  verv   se- 
vere attack  of  the  fever,  I  was  not  ahle  to  be  up  much  through 
the  night.     After  tatoo  I  cautioned  the  guard  to  be  vigilant, 
and  ordered  one  of  the  non-commissioned  officers,   as  the 
sentinels  could  not  see  every  part  of  the   garrison,   to   walk 
round    the  inside  during  the  whole  night,  to  prevent  the  In- 
dians taking  any  advantage  of  us,  provided  they  had  any  in- 
tention of  attacking  us.     About  11  o'clock  I    was  awakened 
by  the  firing  of  one  of  the  sentinels;  I  sprung  up,   ran  out, 
and  ordered  the  men  to  their  posts  ;  when   my  orderly  ser- 
jeant  (who  had  command  of  the  upper  block-house)  called 
out  that  the  Indians  had  fired  the  lower  block-house    (which 
contained  the  property  of  the  contractor,  which  was  deposit- 
ed in  the  lower  part,  the  upper   having   been   assigned   to   a 
corporal  and  1O  privates,  as  an  alarm  post).     The  guns  had 
begun  to  fire  pretty  smartly  from  both  sides.     I  directed  the 
buckets  to  be  got  ready,  and  water   brought  from  'the   well, 
and  the  fire  extinguished  immediately,  as  it  was  hardly   per- 
ceivable at  that  time ;  but  from  debility  or  some  other  cause, 
the  men  were  very  slow  in  executing  mv  orders.     The  word 
fire  appeared  to  throw  the  whole  of  them  in  confusion  ;  and 
by  the  time  they  had  got  the  water  and  broken  open  the  door, 
the  fire  had   unfortunately  communicated  to   a   quantity  of 
whiskey  (the  stock  having  licked  several  holes  through  the 
lower  part  of   the  building,  after  the  salt   that   was  stored 
there,    through  which  they  had  introduced  the  fire  without 
being  discovered,  as  the  night  was  very  dark),  and  in  spite  of 
every  exertion  we  could  make  use  of,  in  less  than  a  moment 
it  ascended  to  the  roof,  and  baffled  every  effort  we   could 
make  to  extinguish   it.     As  that  block-house  adjoined   the 
barracks    that  make  part    of  the  fortifications,  most  of  the 
men  immediately  gave  themselves  up  for  lost,  and  I  had  the 
greatest  difficulty  in  getting  mv  of  my  orders  executed — and, 
sir,  what  from  the  raging  of  the  fire  — the  yelling  and  howling  of 
several  hundred  Indians — the  cries  of  nine  women  and  chil- 
'"  dren  (a  part  of  soldiers'  and  a  part  of  citizens'  wives,  who 
had  taken  shelter  in  the  fort) — and  the   desponding   of  so 
many  of  the  men,  which  was  worse  than  all — I  can    assure 
you  that  my  feelings  were  very  unpleasant — and  indeed  there 
were  not  more  than  10  or  15  men  able   to  do  a  great  deal, 
the  others  being  either  sick  or  convalescent— and  to  add  to 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [131 

our  other  misfortunes,  two  of  the  stoutest  men  in  the  fort, 
and  that  I  had  every  confidence  in,  jumped  the  picket,  and 
left  us.  But  my  presence  of  mind  did  not  lor  a  moment 
forsake  me.  I  saw,  by  throwing  off  part  of  the  roof  that 
joined  the  block-house  that  was  on  fire,  and  keeping  the  end 
perfectly  wtt,  the  whole  row  of  buildings  might  be  saved, 
and  leave  only  an  entrance  oi  18  or  2O  ieet  ior  the  Indians 
to  enter  after  the  house  was  consumed  ;  and  that  a  temporary 
breast-work  might  be  erected  to  prevent  their  even  entering 
there — I  convinced  the  men  that  this  could  be  accomplished, 
and  it  appeared  to  inspire  them  with  new  life,  and  never  did 
men  act  with  more  firmness  and  desperation.  Those  that 
were  able  (while  the  others  kept  up  a  constant  fire  from  the 
other  block-house  and  the  two  bastions)  mounted  the  roofs 
of  the  houses,  with  Dr.  Clark  at  their  head  (who  acted  with 
the  greatest  firmness  and  presence  of  mind  the  whole  time 
the  attack  lasted,  which  was  seven  hours)  under  a  show  IT 
of  bullets,  and  in  less  than  a  moment  threw  off  as  much  of 
the  roof  as  was  necessary.  This  was  done  only  with  the  loss 
of  one  man  killed,  and  two  wounded,  and  I  am  in  hopes  nei- 
ther of  them  dangerously — the  man  that  was  killed  was  a  lit- 
tle deranged,  and  did  not  get  off  the  house  as  soon  as  direct- 
ed, or  he  would  not  have  been  hurt-r— and  although  the  bar- 
racks were  several  times  in  a  blaze,  and  an  immense  quantity 
of  fire  against  them,  the  men  used  such  exertions  that  tliey 
kept  it  under,  and  before  day  raised  a  temporary  breast  worl  as 
high  as  a  man's  head,  although  thr  Indians  continued  to  pDur 
in  a  heavy  fire  of  ball  and  an  innumerable  quantity  of  arrows 
during  the  whole  time  the  attack  lasted,  in  every  part  of  the 
parade.  I  had  but  one  man  killed,  nor  any  other  wounded 
inside  the  fort,  and  he  lost  his  life  by  being  too  anxiouj — he 
got  into  one  of  the  gallies  in  the  bastions,  and  fired  over  the 
pickets,  and  called  out  to  his  comrades  that  he  had  killed  an 
Indian,  and  neglecting  to  stoop  down,  in  an  instant  was  shot 
dead.  One  of  the  men  that  jumped  the  pickets,  returned  an 
hour  before  day,  and  running  up  towards  the  gate,  begged  for 
God's  sake  for  it  to  be  opened.  I  suspected  it  to  be  a  stra- 
tagem of  the  Indians  to  get  in,  as  I  did  not  recollect  the 
voice.  I  directed  the  men  in  the  bastion,  where  I  happened 
to  be,  to  shoot  him  let  him  be  who  he  would,  and  one  of 
them  fired  at  him,  but  fortunately  he  ran  up  to  the  other  bas- 
tion, where  they  knew  his  voice,  and  Dr.  Clark  directed  him 
to  lie  down  close  to  the  pickets  behind  an  empty  barrel  that 
happened  to  be  there,  and  at  day -light  I  let  him  in.  His  arm 
was  broke  in  a  most  shocking  manner;,  which  he  said  was 


132]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

done  by  the  Indians — which  I  suppose  was  the  cause  of  his 
returning.  I  think  it  probable  he  will  nof  recover.  The 
other  they  caught  about  120  yards  from  the  garrison,  and  cut 
him  all  to  pieces.  After  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  until 
about  6  o'clock  the  next  morning,  which  we  began  to  return 
with  some  e,Fect  after  day-light,  they  remoVed  out  of  the 
reach  of  our  guns.  A  party  of  them  drove  up  the  horses 
that  belonged  to  the  citizens  lure,  and  as  they  could  not  catch 
them  very  readily,  shot  the  whole  of  them  in  our  sight,  as 
well  as  a  number  of  hogs.  They  drove  off  the  whole  of  the 
cattle,  which  amounted  to  65  head,  as  well  as  the  public  ox- 
en. I  had  the  vacancy  filled  up  before  night  (which  was 
made  by  the  burning  of  the  block-house)  with  a  strong  row 
of  pickets,  which  I  got  by  pulling  down  the  guard  house. 
We  lost  the  whole  of  olir  provisions,  but  must  make  out  to 
live  upon  green  corn  until  we  can  get  a  supply,  which  I  am 
in  hopes  will  not  be  long.  I  believe  the  whole  of  the  Mia- 
mies  or  Weas  were  among  the  prophet's  party,  as  one  chief 
gave  his  orders  in  that  language,  which  resembled  Stone  Eat- 
er's voice  ;  and  I  believe  Negro  Legs  was  there  likewise.  A 
Frenchman  here  understands  their  different  languages,  and 
several  of  the  Miamies  or  Weas,  that  have  been  frequently 
here,  were  recognized  by  the  Frenchman  and  soldiers,  next 
morning.  The  Indians  suffered  smartly,  but  were  so  nume- 
rous as  to  take  off  all  that  were  shot.  They  continued  with 
us  until  the  next  morning,  but  made  no  further  attempt  on 
the  fort,  nor  have  we* seen  any  thing  more  of  them  since.  I 
have  delayed  informing  you  of  my  situation,  as  I  did  not  like 
to  weaken  the  garrison,  and  I  looked  for  some  person  from 
Vimennes,  and  none  of  m\  men  were  acquainted  with  the 
wooas,  and  therefore  I  would  either  have  to  take  the  road  or 
river,  which  I  was  fearful  was  guarded  by  small  parties  of 
Indians  that  would  not  dare  attack  a  company  of  rang*,  rs  that 
was  on  a  scout ;  but  being  disappointed,  I  have  at  length  de- 
termined to  send  a  couple  of  men  by  water,  and  am  in  hopes 
they  will  arrive  safe.  I  think  it  would  be  best  to  send  the 
provisions  under  a  pretty  strong  escort,  as  the  Indians  may 
attempt  to  prevent  their  coming.  If  you  carry  on  an  expe- 
dition against  the  prophet  this  fall,  you  ought  to  be  well  pro- 
vided with  every  thing,  as  you  may  calculate  on  having  every 
inch  of  ground  disputed  between  this  and  there  that  they  can 
defend  with  advantage.  Wishing,  &c.  &c. 

(Signed)  Z.  TAYLOR. 

His  Excellency  Governor  Harrison* 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

fort  Harrison,  September  13,  1812. 

Dear  sir,  I  wrote  you  on  the  12ih  instant,  giving  you  an 
account  of  the  attack  on  this  place,  as  well  as  my  situation, 
which  account  I  attempted  to  send  by  water,  but  the  two  men 
whom  I  despatched  in  a  canoe  after  night,  found  the  river 
so  well  guarded,  that  they  were  obliged  to  return.  The  In- 
dians had  built  a  fire  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  a  short  dis- 
tance below  the  garrison,  which  gave  them  an  opportunity  of 
seeing  any  craft  that  might  attempt  to  pass,  and  were  waiting 
with  a  canoe,  ready  to  intercept  it.  I  expect  the  fort  as  well 
as  the  road  to  Vincennes,  is  as  well  or  better  watched  than 
the  river.  But  my  situation  compels  me  to  make  one  other 
attempt  by  land,  and  my  orderly  serjeant,  with  one  ether 
man,  sets  out  to-night,  with  strict  orders  to  avoid  the  road  in 
the  day-time,  and  d  pend  entirelv  on  the  woods,  nlthough 
neither  of  them  have  ever  been  to  Vincennes  by  land,  nor  do 
they  know  any  thing  of  the  country,  but  I  am  in  hopes  they 
will  reach  you  in  safety.  I  send  them  with  great  reluctance, 
from  their  ignorance  of  the  woods.  I  think  it  very  probable 
there  is  a  large  party  of  Indians  way -laying  the  road  between 
this  and  Vincennes,  likely  about  the  Narrows,  for  the  purpose 
of  intercepting  any  party  that  may  be  coming  to  this  place, 
as  the  cattle  they  got  here  will  .supply  them  plentifully  with 
provisions  for  some  time  to  come.  Please,  &c.  &c. 

(Signed)  Z.  TAYLOR. 

His  Excellency  Gov.  Harrison. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  General  Harrison  to  Governor  Shel- 
by, dated 
Head- Barters,  Fort  Wayne,  18th  Sept.  1812. 

I  arrived  here  with  the  troops  on  Saturday  last :  the  In- 
dians had  closely  invested  the  fort  for  several  days,  and  burnt 
the  .United  States'  factory,  and  many  other  valuable  houses. 
But  three  of  our  people  were  killed:  they  (the  Indians) 
raised  the  siege  the  day  before  we  reached  here,  and  retreat- 
ed precipitately. 

Not  being  able  to  move  on  towards  Detroit  immediately, 
on  account  of  the  want  of  proper  supplies,  I  determined  to 
enMploy  the  intermediate  time  in  destroying  the  towns  within' 
two  days  march  of  this  place.  The  whole  force  was  accord- 
ingly divided  and  placed  under  the  command  of  general 
Payne  and  colonel  Wells.  The  former  was  directed  to  de- 
stroy the  Miami  towns  at  the  forks  of  the  Wabash;  and  the 
latter  directed  to  go  against  the  Potawatamie  villages  at  Elk 
Hart. 

VOL.    T.    PART    IT.  (T] 


134J  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

I  accompanied  general  Payne  on  tke  expedition :  four  of 
the  Miami  villages  were  burnt  (three  of  them  remarVably 
flourishing)  and  all  their  corn  was  cut  up  and  piled,  under 
the  expectation  that  it  would  rot  before  the  Indians  could  do 
any  thing  to  prevent  it.  I  have  this  moment  heard  from  co- 
lonel Wells :  he  has  been  equally  successful,  and  has  met 
with  no  enemy  who  dared  to  oppose  thtm. 

It  is  impossible  to  find  language  to  convey  my  sense  of  the 
merits  of  the  troops  under  my  command  from  \our  state. 
Yes,  my  dear  sir,  I  anticipated  in  this  campaign  a  glorious 
triumph  to  our  arms,  and  an  equally  glorious  triumph  to  re- 
publicanism— since  it  will  prove  the  falsity  of  the  theory  which 
proclaims  the  necessity  of  standing  armies,  or,  in  other  words, 
that  a  man  must  become  a  slave  before  he  can  be  made  a 
warrior. 

Report  of  General  Tupper  to  General  Harrison,  as  to  the  Causes 

of  the  Failure  of  the  Expedition  of  mounted  Men  under  his 

command. 

Urbana,  October  12,  1812. 

Sir,  on  receiving  your  order  of  the  4th  instant,  to  proceed 
to  the  Rapids  with  the  whole  force  of  mounted  men  under 
my  command,  whose  horses  were  in  a  condition  to  perform 
the  service  ;  I  caused^an  examination  to  be  immediately  had, 
and  found  that  there  still  remained  960  men,  including  offi- 
cers, in  a  condition  to  march,  including  also  captain  Bacon, 
and  one  other  company  which  left  us  the  morning  following. 

The  beeves  expected  at  general  Winchester's  camp  did 
not  arrive,  so  as  to  enable  us  to  draw,  till  the  morning  ot  the 
5th — a  great  number  of  the  men  were  destitute  of  provisions 
the  day  you  left  Di  fiance.  There  being  no  flour  to  be  issu- 
ed to  the  mounted  men,  I  ordered  eight  days'  rations  of  beef 
to  be  rlrawn  and  immediately  jerked,  so  as  to  lighten  and 
prepare  it  for  the  expedition,  intended  to  move  off  on  the 
morning  of  the  5th.  On  examining  our  ammunition,  it  had 
been  found,  that  during  those  excessive  rains  which  fell  while 
you  were  marching  us  from  St.  Mary's  to  Defiance,  it  had 
become  so  damaged  ;is  to  be  entirely  useless  ;  not  two  rounds 
|bf  sound  cartridges  were  left  to  a  man.  » 

I  ordered  the  returns  made,  so  that  each  man  should  be 
furnihhed  with  12  rounds. — This  return  amounted  to  4500 
cartridges  for  the  musket  men,  exclusive  of  major  Roper's 
b.mulion — the  ammunition  of  the  riflemen  having  receiv-  d 
very  little  damage;  quarter-master  Bassey  called  OB  the 
quarter-master  general  in  general  Winchester's  camp,  and 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [135 

returned  without  a  supply.  About  one  o'clock  this  day  a 
man  belonging  to  captain  Manary's  company  of  rangers  was 
killed  and  scalped  across  the  river  Miami,  within  200  yards 
of  our  camp.  I  gave  immediate  orders  to  arms,  and  in  five 
minutes  to  horse,  but  owing  to  our  being  compelled  to  con- 
fine our  horses  during  the  night,  and  graze  them  by  day,  for 
want  of  forage,  the  greater  part,  at  this  moment,  were  under 
keepers  nearly  one  mile  from  our  camp  up  the  Auglaise. 
Conceiving  from  the  bold  manner  in  which  the  Indians  had 
approached  our  camp,  that  it  was  possible  a  considerable  body- 
were  not  distant,  I  wished  to  form  the  men  and  proceed  over 
the  river,  by  which  we  should  be  in  a  situation  to  contend 
with  a  considerable  force,  or  pursue  to  effect  a  small  one.  In 
the  mean  time  I  permitted  major  Brush  to  cross  oxrer  with 
about  5O  foot,  to  examine  the  bank,  and  see  in  what  direc- 
tion the  Indians  had  retired — but  before  he  had  readied  the 
opposite  shore  every  horseman  whose  horse  was  in  camp  was 
mounted  to  follow  over.  It  was  in  vain  that  I  made  an  at- 
tempt to  keep  them  back  till  they  were  formed  ;  they  broke 
off  in  numbers  from  20  to  SO,  mostly  without  their  officers, 
and  crossed  the  woods  in  every  direction  ;  a  party  of  15 
fell  on  the  trail  of  the  Indians,  and  at  seven  or  eight  miles 
overtook  them,  but  as  the  Indians  were  superior  to  them,  and 
formed,  our  men  without  waiting  for  a  discharge  from  the 
eitemv,  returned  to  camp.  Logan,  and  the  other  Indians  in 
our  camp,  were  of  the  opinion  that  there  was  a  considerable 
force  of  the  enemy  lying  at  no  great  distance  below  us,  and 
offered  to  spy  down.  Early  on  the  following  morning  they 
left  our  camp  with  instructions  to  proceed  four  miles  below 
the  Little  Rapids,  a  distance  of  14  miles..  They  returned  at 
evening,  having  found  no  trail  of  any  size,  excepting  the 
party  which  had  been  pursued  the  evening  before,  and  those 
they  computed  at  about  40 ;  that  they  had  proceeded  on  to- 
wards the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  not  on  a  direction 
to  the  Rapids- — that  the  British  and  Indians  which  had  fled 
before  general  Winchester,  had  retreated,  with  apparent  pre«- 
cipitancy,  driving  their  carriages  over  large  logs,  and  tearing 
down  every  sapling  that  stood  in  their  way. 

S.-arcely  had  this  scout  left  our  camp,  when  I  received  the 
following  order  from  general  Winchester : 

Camp  near  Defiance \  October  6,  1812. 

Sir,  believing  it  to  be  essential,  that  the  Indians  who  com- 
mitted the  murder  near  your  camp  should  be  pursued  and 
routed,  or  their  strength  and  situation  ascertained,  and  as  that 


136]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

duty  can  be  best  and  most  expeditiously  done  with  mounted 
men,  you  will  this  morning  pursue  their  trail  with  a  part  or 
the  whole  of  your  force,  and  dislodge,  kill,  and  destroy  them 
if  in  your  power.  This  dutv  performed  you  can  take  the 
course  directed  by  general  Harrison.  The  attitude  of  the 
enemv  requires  this  change  in  your  destination,  and,  as  com- 
manding officer  of  the  left  wing  of  the  north-western  army, 
I  have  deemed  it  my  duty  to  make  it:  if  you  do  not  return 
to  report,  you  will  send  an  officer  for  that  purpose. 

(Signed)  J.  WINCHESTER, 

Brig.-Gen.  com.  left  -wing  N.  W.  Army. 
Gen.  Tupper. 

I  waited  on  general  Winchester  immediately  on  the  re- 
ceipt of  the  foregoing  order,  informing  him  of  mv  having 
previously  sent  out  a  scout,  and  the  object  of  it ;  that  the 
Indians  h  id  the  evening  before  been  overtaken  seven  or  eight 
miles  from  our  camp,  and  their  numbers  computed  at  from  2O 
to  40 ;  that  in  all  probabilitv  they  had  then  advanced  too  far 
to  be  overtaken  without  a  long  pursuit ;  that  our  horses  were 
feeble,  and  that  I  wished  to  preserve  as  much  of  their  strength 
as  possible  for  the  general  object  of  the  expedition  ;  and,  that 
if  it  was  agreeable  to  him,  we  would  wait  the  arrival  of  the 
scouts,  to  take  such  measures  as  were  deemed  proper  on  their 
return.  General  Winchester  made  no  objections  to  this  ar- 
rangement: at  the  same  time  I  informed  him  that  we  had 
not  three  rounds  of  ammunition  to  a  man,  and  requested  of 
him  to  order  me  a  supply. — He  replied  th;tt  he  would  order 
his  ammunition  examined,  and  would  endeavour  to  furnish 
me  a  part  of  what  .was  required  to  complete  the  12  rounds. 
My  brigade  quarter-master  attended  this  day,  and  returned 
at  evening  with  the  information  that  no  ammunition  could  be 
had.  Early  the  following  morning  I  ordered  the  horses  sad- 
dled for  a  march,  and  repaired  to  general  Winchester's  quar- 
ters, and  requested  a  supply  of  20OO  cartridges,  being  about 
one-third  of  the  quantity  required,  without  which  I  could 
not  feel  myself  justifiable  in  proceeding  on  the  expedition. 
•  In  answer  he  stated  to  me,  that  he  had  but  6000  cartridges 
not  issued,  that  his  men  had  very  few  in  their  boxes,  that  he 
had  a  good  supply  of  powder  and  balls,  but  no  paper ;  the 
latter  w  s  in  waggons  expected  to  arrive  that,  or  the  clay  fol- 
lowing; and  then  directed  me  to  return  to  my  camp,  and 
make  a  report  of  the  actual  quantity  on  hand,  and  he  would 
then  inform  me  whether  he  would  deliver  the  2000  car- 
tridges. I  hastened  buck  to  my  camp,  and  gave  the  neces- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [is/ 

sary  orders  for  furnishing  the  returns  ;  but  in  a  few  minutes 
after,  received  from  general  Winchester  the  following  order: 
General  Tapper,  longer  delay  consistent  with  strict  military 
principles,  cannot  be  indulged;  you  will  therefore  proceed 
immediately  on  the  reconnoitering  duty  ordered  yesterday, 
with  the  troops  under  your  command,  except  colonel  Sime- 
rall's  corps,  who  shall  return  immtdiately  to'  the  settlement 
to  recruit  their  horses,  agreeably  to  general  Harrison's  or- 
ders. 

(Signed)  J.  WINCHESTER,  Brtg.-Gen. 

When  colonel  Simerall's  regiment  moved  off,  a  large  pro- 
portion of  major  Roper's  battalion,  from  Kentucky,  followed, 
which  reduced  that  battalion  (being  the  M'hole  force  now  re- 
maining from  Kentucky)  to  less  than  80  men.  I  was  in- 
debted to  colonel  Simerall  for  all  the  cartridges  he  had,  ex.- 
cepting  two  rounds,  but  as  the  most  of  them  had  been  da- 
maged and  dried,  they  did  not  add  one  sound  round  to  each 
man.  I  was  on  the  point  of  taking  up  the  line  of  march  to 
execute  general  Winchester's  orders,  when  colonel  Allen, 
commanding  a  regiment  of  Kentucky  troops  in  general  Win- 
chester's camp,  came  up  and  informed  me  he  had  obtained 
leave  to  accompany  me  to  the  Rapids  in  any  station  I  thought* 
proper  to  place  him,  from  a  soldier  upwards.  I  thankfully 
accepted  his  services,  and  caused  him  to  be  announced  as  an 
aid.  Colonel  Allen  proposed,  that  as  it  was  general  Winches- 
ter's wish,  the  troops  should  move  on  the  direct  route  to  the 
Rapids,  that  none  should  be  taken  but  such  as  would  go  free- 
ly. The  experiment  was  made,  when  about  400  volunteered 
for  the  service.  Scarcely  had  those  troops  moved  forward 
from  the  ranks  when  colonel  Allen  beckoned  me  aside,  and 
showed  me  an  order  which  general  Winchester  had  that  mo- 
ment forwarded  to  him,  giving  colonel  Allen  the  command 
of  the  men  "ordered  to  the  Rapids.  I  requested  of  colonel 
Allen  a  copy  of  the  order,  vvhich  he  declined  giving.  It 
would  be  difficult,  sir,  for  me  to  describe  the  state  of  my 
feelings  at  this  moment.  I  turned  to  the  troops  which  had 
refused  to  volunteer,  and  ordered  them  to  cross  the  Auglaize 
on  the  route  you  directed  me  to  take,  as  the  best  calculated 
to  carry  your  orders  into  effect.  When  it  was  found  gene- 
ral Winchester  had  suspended  me  in  the  command,  the  whole 
force  from  Ohio  broke  off,  crossed  the  Auglaize,  and  re- 
fused to  march  as  directed  by  general  Winchester.  Colonel 
Allen  and  major  Brush  returned  to  general  W.,  who  assured 
them  he  had  mistook  the  object  of  colonel  Allen's  request: 


138]  ;      HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

general  Wnrchester  then  proposed  to  divide  the  force,  a  party 
to  proceed  on  the  direct  route  from  D  fiance  to  the  Rapids, 
the  other  by  Tawa  towns,  to  unite  at  a  certain  time,  12  miles 
above  the  Rapids — \  \vas  unwilling  to  consent  to  this  mea- 
sure1;  the  force  unktd  was  not  half  the  number  you  thought 
necessary  to  order  on  the  most  secret  route  to  effect  the  ob- 
ject of  the  expedition  ;  a  division  of  less  than  500  men  to 
meet  in  an  enemy's  country,  where  many  circumstances 
might  prevent  their  junction,  was  to  me  a  measure  I  could 
only  consent  to  by  compulsion — this  measure  was  in  the  end 
abandoned. 

With  the  then  remaining  force,  I  proceeded  to  this  place, 
where  I  directed  colonel  Findley  and  major  Roper  to  dis- 
charge such  mtn  only  as  had  continued  to  do  their  duty. 

Thus,  sir,  has  terminated  an  expedition,  at  one  time  capa- 
ble of  tearing  the  British  flag  from  the  walls  at  Detroit,  where- 
in our  troops  might  have  returned  with  the  pleasing  reflec- 
tion of  having  rendered  their  couiitrv  an  essential  service. 

It  is  a  duty,  sir,  I  owe  to  the  officers  of  the  Kentucky 
forces,  to  colonel  Findley  and  the  officers^  of  his  first  batta- 
lion, to  say,  that  they  were  zealous  in  pressing  forward  the 
expedition — while  the  officers  of  the  second  battalion,  com- 
manded by  major  Taylor,  with  a  few  exceptions,  were  shrink- 
ing from  their  duty,  and  deserting  the  cause  of  their  country. 

The  detachment  of  colonel  Simerall's  regiment  from  our 
force  stands  prominent  among  the  causes  of  our  failure;  al- 
ready was  there  panic  in  some  parts  of  our  camp;  the  ene- 
my that  h  sd  retired  at  general  Winchester's  approach  had 
been  greatly  magnified.  The  day  succeeding  the  alarm,  ge- 
neral Winchester  drew  in  one  wing  of  his  lines,  and  strength- 
ened his  camp  with  a  breast-work — even  this  circumstance 
was  noticed,  and  urged  as  an  evidence  that  he  apprehended  a 
force  superior  to  his  own.  Thus  when  imaginary  obstacles 
unite  with  those  that  are  real,  to  oppose  the  movement  of 
a  force  so  insubordinate,  as  that  every  man's  will  is  his  law, 
little  can  be  expected  by  the  officers  but  a  plentiful  harvest 
of  mortification  and  disgrace,. 

.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  at  the  time  those  men  refused  to 
march, there  was  a  scarcity  of  provisions  in  the  camp; — not 
three  rations  of  meat  to  each  soldier  who  remained,  and  no 
bread  cr  flour.  But  we  had  found  at  those  towns  an  abun- 
dant supply  of  good  sound  corn,  together  with  nearh  30 
bushels  cured  when  green,  or,  tossamanona.  Our  suft<  rings 
with  this  supply  could  not  have  been  great  in  going  and  re- 
turning from  the  Rapids. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.     . ,,         [139 

The  man  whose  courage  and  patriotism  expires  when  his 
rations  are  reduced,  ought  never  to  place  himself  between 
his  country  and  its  enemies. 

When  you  shall  have  examined  and  considered  the  whole 
causes  of  our  failure,  should  doubts  rest  on  your  mind 
whether  some  part  of  it  does  not  attach  to  my  conduct,  may 
I  not  hope,  sir,  that  you  will  order  a  court  of  inquiry,  that  I 
may  have  an  opportunity  of  meeting  an  investigation. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  most  obe- 
diemt  humble  servant, 

EDWARD  W.  TUPPER,  Brigadier -General. 
Gen.  Wm.  H.  Harrison,  Com.  in  Chief  of  the  N.  W.  Army. 

•     GENERAL    ORDERS. 

Head- Quarters,  Miami  Rapids,  Feb.  17,  1813. 
Certain  chargers  of  misconduct  haying  been  alleged  against 
brigadier -general  Edward  W.  Tupper,  of  the  first  brigade  of 
Ohio  militia,  now  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  as  a 
commanding  officer  of  a  mounted  force,  intended  for  an  ex- 
pedition down  the  Miami  river;  on  or  about  the day  of 

October,  1812;  and  an  investigation  by  the  proper  authority 
having  been  demanded  by  the  said  brigadier-general  Tupper, 
a  court  of  enquiry,  to  consist  of  brigadier-general  Leftwich, 
of  the  Virginia  militia,  president;  brigadier-general  Crooks, 
of  the  Pennsylvania  militia,  and  major  Amos  Stoddard,  of 
the  first  regiment  United  States'  artillerists,  members,  is  here- 
by appointed  to  meet  this  day,  at  ten  oMock,  A.  M.,  to  exa- 
mine and  inquire  into  the  nature  of  the  aforesaid  charges ; 
which  charges,  together  with  the  testimony  in  support  thereof, 
will  be  laid  before  the  court  by  the  division  judge  advocate, 
John  S.  Wills,  esq.  who  will  act  as  recorder;  and  the  court 
is  hereby  empowered  and  required  to  give  its  opinion  as  to 
the  real  merits  of  the  case  for  the  information  of  the  command- 
ing general.  B)  'order. 

NATHL.  F.  ADAMS,  Dep  Adj.  Gen. 

OPINION  OF    THE    COURT. 

After  mature  investigation,  it  appears  to  the  court,  that  the 
following  are  the  injurious  reports  in  circulation  against  bri- 
gadier-general Tupper,  viz: — That  he  refused  or  neglected  to 
obey  the  orders  of  general  Winchester,  of  the  6th  and  7th 
Oct.  1812;  and  that  he  omitted  to  pursue  with  an  organized 
force,  the  Indians,  who  shot  one  of  his  men  on  the  6th  of  the 
month. 


140]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

General  Tupper  admits,  that  he  did  not  obey  the  above  or- 
ders, and  neglected  to  pursue  the  Indians,  as  above  stated; 
and  as  an  excuse  or  justification  of  his  conduct,  relative  to 
said  orders,  he  adduced  to  the  court  satisfactory  proofs  of  the 
following  facts,  viz : — That  most  of  the  ammunition  of  the  sol- 
diery was  damaged  by  long  and  frequent  rains,  and  rendered 
unfit  for  service;  that  he  called  for  a  supply,  but  was  unable 
to  obtain  it;  that  the  troops  were  almost  destitute  of  provi- 
sions, and  a-  supply  could  not  be  obtained;  that  the  force  of 
the  enemy  was  represented  as  much  superior  to  their  own  :  all 
which  circumstances  combined  to  create  a  panic  among  th<  m, 
and  to  induce  a  considerable  portion  of  tht  m  to  refuse  march- 
ing under  the  aforesaid  orders.  It  also  appeared  in  evidence 
that  general  Tupper  was,  at  the  same  time,  acting  under  the 
superior  orders  of  general  Harrison,  of  the  4th  of  the  same 
month. 

From  the  whole  view  of  the  evidence  in  this  case,  and  the 
peculiar  circumstances  attending  it,  the  court  is  decidedly  of 
opinion  that  the  execution  of  the  above  order  was  rendered 
impracticable  on  the  part  of  general  Tupper,  and  that  too 
from  reasons  not  within  his  controul;  that  he  acted  wisely  in 
not  pursuing  the  Indians,  with  an  organized  force,  who  shot 
one  of  his  men,  as  aforesaid,  as  a  considerable  number,  of 
his  men  advanced,  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  in  such  haste, 
that  they  could  not  be  properly  organized ;  and  as  the  charac- 
ter of  that  transaction  afforded  sufficient  evidence,  to  a  pru- 
dent general,  that  a  violent  attack  was  meditated  from  ano- 
ther quarter ;  and  that  therefore,  general  Tupper  stands  ac- 
quitted, in  the  opinion  of  this  court,  of  all  censure  and  blame, 
and  that  there  is  no  just  foundation  for  the  injurious  reports 
in  circulation. 

JOEL  LEFT\yiCH,  Brig.  President, 
John  S.  Wills,  Dh.  Judge  Advocate. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Brigadier-General  Tupper,  commanding 
the  Ohio  Volunteers  in  the  N.  IV  Army,  to  Brigadier-Gene- 
ral Harrison,  transmitted  to  the  Department  of  War,  dated 

Camp  near  M*- Arthur's  Block-house,  Nov.  16,  1812. 
Sir,  my  letter  of  the  10th  instant  informed  you  of  m\  pre- 
paration to  march  that  day  to  the  Rapids,  in  consequence  of 
the  information  I  obtained  of  the  prisoner,  captain  Clark.  I 
am  sorry  to  inform  you,  that  I  have  not  succeeded  to  the  ex- 
tent of  my  expectations ;  though  I  am  convinced  the  move- 
ment will  prove  beneficial  to  the  service. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th,  about  1 1  o'clock,  we  moved 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [Ul 

from  this  camp,  with  a  force  consisting  of  604  men,  exclu- 
sive of  officers,  with  one  light  six-pounder,  the  soldiers  car- 
rying in  their  knapsacks  five  days'  provision.  Owing  to  the 
state  of  the  roads,  I  soon  found  the  field- piece  could  not  be 
carried  forward  without  retarding  our  march — I  left  it  at  the 
block-house,  15  miles  in  advance. 

On  the  evening  of  the  13th,  we  reached  Carion  river  (about 
18  miles  from  the  Rapids).  I  ordered  captain  Hinkton  to  pro- 
ceed that  night  to  examine  the  situation  of  the  encmv ;  cap- 
tain Hinkton  met  me  the  next  day  about  five  miles  from  the 
Rapids,  with  the  information  that  the  enemy  still  occupied 
the  Rapids,  and  that  the  boats  and  vessels  lay  a  little  below. 
I  detained  the  troops  till  sun-setting,  so  as  not  to  fall  in  with 
their  daily  scouts,  and  proceeded  in  the  evening  to  the  ford, 
about  two  and  a  half  miles  above  the  Rapids;  I  there  again 
halted,  while  captains  Hinkton  and  Wood  proceeded  down 
and  examined  the  exact  situation  of  the  encampments  of  the 
enemy.  At  nine  o'clock  they  returned  and  gave  me  the  ne- 
cessary information:  they  were  encamped  in  a  body  above 
the  Bougron's  house ;  were  engaged  in  dancing  and  (as  they 
concluded)  drinking.  I  immediately  ordered  the  troops  to 
prepare  to  cross  the  river — to  attack  the  enemy  at  the  dawn 
of  day. 

Colonel  Stafford,  who  commanded  the  second  regiment,  I 
ordered  to  proceed,  marching  by  the  left  flank  in  single  files  ; 
colonel  Miller,  commanding  the  third  regiment,  followed  in 
the  same  order ;  major  Galloway,  who  commanded  a  bat- 
talion of  the  first  regiment,  I  ordered  to  march  thirty  paces 
to  the  left,  so  as  to  act  as  a  reserve,  as  circumstances  might 
require,  the  two  regiments  being  sufficient  to  form  a  line  to 
enclose  the  enemy  with  the  river.  Every  officer  had  been  in- 
structed in  his  duty,  and  every  soldier  ordered  to  leave  the 
ranks,  who  felt  an  unwillingness  to  pass  over,  that  our  situa- 
tion would  admit  of  no  retreat,  and  that  when  they  had  gain- 
ed the  other  shore,  they  had  only  to  choose  between  victory 
and  death.  The  soldiers  cheerfully  took  up  the  line  of  march. 
Though  I  had  ordered  the  fords  examined,  I  Had  still  fears, 
whether  the  men  could  resist  the  current — they  hadSljbder- 
gone  a  fatiguing  march,  had  then  to  lie  on  the  ground  with- 
out fires  nearly  three  hours,  the  wind  blowing  almost  a  gale 
from  the  north-west.  Though  the  soldiers  were  shivering  with 
cold,  they  did  not  hesitate  to  attempt  the  ford.  I  proceeded 
over  with  the  first  section,  instructing  them  to  lock  arms  to 
resist  the  current.  A  part  of  the  first  company  passed  over 

VOL.  I.    PART  II.  [U] 


142]          ,     HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

in  safety ;  but  scarcely  had  they  reached  the  shore,  when  the 
crv  of  "  Help,  I  am  drowning,"  was  heard  from  the  compa- 
nies in  the  rear.  The  current  was  sweeping  the  men  down  the 
Rapids  in  spite  of  the  exertions  of  those  who  were  stronger 
and  better  able  to  resist  it.  The  few  horses  we  had  were  sent 
in  to  save  tht  men, and  fortunate!)  succeeded;  about  ten  guns 
were  lost,  and,  the  greater  part  of  the  ammunition  of  the 
musket  men  entirely  destroyed.  I  next  attempted  to  bring 
the  men  over  on  horses,  but  owing  to  their  being  weak,  many 
of  the  horses  were  swept  from  their  feet,  and  their  riders 
thrown  into  the  current.  I  scon  found  that  it  would  not  be 
possible  to  cross  the  whole  force  by  day-light ;  and  some, 
when  over,  would  not  be  in  a  condition  to  contend  with  a  force 
of  two-thirds  their  numbers.  I  was  very  reluctantly  compelled 
to  stop  the  passing  over  of  the  men,  and  send  back  such  as 
had  crossed  ;  this  occupied  us  till  3  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
I  immediately  ordered  the  wet  arms  to  be  dried,  and  caused 
cartridges  to  be  taken  from  the  men  who  had  not  been  in  the 
river,  and  distributed  to  those  whose  cartridges  had  been  wet. 
In  the  morning,  convinced  we  were  unable  to  get  at  the 
enemy,  I  ordered  the  spies  to  endeavour  to  decoy  them  over ; 
they  proceeded  down  and  discovered  themselves  j  about  15 
came  over,  but  they  were  so  cautious  as  not  to  be  drawn 
within  our  lines.  The  spies,  however,  wounded  two  of  them. 
After  finding  they  were  not  coming  over  with  any  consider- 
able force,  I  marched  down  and  showed  the  heads  of  our  co- 
lumns opposite  their  encampment  at  Bougron's.  They  ap- 
peared in  considerable  disorder,  as  the  advanced  guard  opened 
from  the  woods.  The  British,  who  were  in  the  vessels  and 
boats,  immediately  cut  loose  and  proceeded  down  the  river. 
The  women  were  seen  running  off,  on  the  road  leading  to 
Detroit ;  the  men  commenced  a  fire  towards  us.  The  Indians 
showed  a  force  of  between  four  and  five  hundred;  every  one 
discharged  his  piece.  They  had  one  piece  of  artillery  which 
they  discharged;  from  its  report  I  considered  it  a  four-pounder. 
After  a  number  of  challenges  for  them  to  cross  over  by  our 
men,  I  ordered  the  march  back  to  our  encampment,  having 
previously  observed  a  number  of  Indians  mounting  their 
horses  and  taking  the  direction  of  the  road.  W'len  within 
about  one  mile  of  our  encampment,  some  of  the  soldiers, 
without  permission  and  contrary  to  orders,  fired  upon  a  gang 
of  hogs  from  the  rear  of  the  right  column,  and  pursued  them 
nearly  half  a  mile  ;  at  the  same  time,  eight  or  ten  men,  with- 
out my  knowledge,  left  the  ranks  and  entered  a  field  to  gather 
corn — at  this  moment  a  body  of  mounted  Indians  came  upon 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [U3 

them,  and  killed  four  men ;  and  then  rode  violently  up  to  the 
rear  of  the  right  flank  and  commenced  an  attack. 

I  ordered  the  right  column  thrown  back  and  commenced  a 
brisk  fire,  at  the  same  time  advancing  upon  them,  they  gave 
the  ground;  but  in  a  few  minutes  rallied,  and  passing  along 
our  van-guard,  made  a  violent  charge  upon  the  rear  of  the 
left  column.  This  was  thrown  briskly  back,  and  resisted 
every  attempt  they  made  to  break  the  lines.  In  20  minutes 
they  were  driven  from  the  field.  Conceiving  that  the  attack 
by  this  force  of  mounted  men  was  but  to  get  our  troops  into 
disorder,  to  make  room  for  an  attack  of  their  foot,  I  ordered 
the  right  column  to  move  up  into  marching  order,  lest  that 
attack  should  be  made  on  our  right  flank.  This  column  had 
scarcely  regained  their  position,  when  major  Beasly,  who 
commanded  a  battalion  on  that  flank,  sent  and  informed  me 
that  the  Indians  were  crossing  the  river  in  considerable  num- 
bers at  the  head  of  that  column.  I  immediately  ordered  the 
left  column  to  resume  their  marching  order,  and  proceeded 
to  the  head  of  the  right  column,  which  was  nearly  up  to  the 
ford.  I  found  a  number  of  Indians  had  crossed  on  horse- 
back ;  some  in  the  middle  of  the  river  crossing,  and  about 
two  hundred  still  on  the  opposite  bank.  I  ordered  major 
Bently  to  advance  with  his  battalion  and  dislodge  them.  In 
this  he  succeeded  in  a  few  minutes  ;  several  of  them  were 
shot  from  their  horses  while  crossing  the  river — I  observed 
them  floating  down  the  Rapids  at  a  distance  below  their  horses. 
The  sun  at  this  time  was  setting. 

The  Indians  which  had  made  the  attack  upon  our  rear, 
crossed  at  a  ford  below  the  rear  of  our  columns.  WV  had  but , 
one  man  touched  by  a  bullet  in  our  lines,  and  he  but  slightly;  one 
of  our  spies  was  also  wounded.  A  number  of  Indians  were 
shot  from  their  horses — they,  with  great  dexterity,  threw 
them  on  again  and  carried  them  off  the  field;  from  the  infor- 
mation of  a  number  of  men  on  whom  I  can  rely,  as  well  as 
from  what  I  was  witness  to,  from  15  to  20  Indians  were  car- 
ried off,  either  killed  or  wounded.  Split  Log,  mounted  on  an 
active  white  horse,  led  on  the  several  attacks  at  the  com- 
mencement— his  horse  was  well  trained,-  he  sometimes  fired 
from  him,  and  at  other  times  leaped  from  him  behind  a  tree. 
At  some  of  the  last  attacks  another  rider  \vas  mounted  on  that 
horse,  when  the  horse  was  wounded  and  taken  from  the  field. 
Colonel  Elliot  was  along  our  rear  and  right  column,  at  about 
300  yards  distance  ;  he  was  well  known  by  several  persons  in 
our  lines.  The  Indians'  horses  were  very  diflxivnt  from  such 
as  I  have  been  accustomed  to  see  them  riding ;  they  were- 


144]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

high  and  active — they  were  also  supplied  with  pistols  and 
holsters.  I  have  reason  to  believe  the  whole  force  of  the 
enemv  was  very  little,  if  any,  inferior  to  our  own  ;  of  this  I 
was  well  convinced  from  the  information  of  captains  Hinkton 
and  Wood,  who  examined  the  number  of  their  files  before 
we  attempted  to  cross  ;  but  from  the  advantage  we  had  gained 
by  our  approach,  and  the  determined  spirit  of  the  soldiers,  I 
felt  not  the  least  hesitation  in  attacking  them ;  and  well  am  I 
convinced  that  nothing  but  the  situation  of  the  river  prevent- 
ed our  making  a  complete  slaughter  of  their  whole  force,  and 
securing  the  gun-boats  and  batteaux  loading  with  corn. 

The  troops  under  my  command  had  consumed  their  provi- 
sions (some  on  the  evening  of  the  13th  and  all  on  the  14th), 
and  had  then  a  distance  of  40  miles  to  travel  back  before 
there  was  a  possibility  of  supply.  I  was  therefore  compelled 
to  abandon  a  position  I  felt  myself  fully  able  to  maintain. 

It  is  a  duty,  sir,  I  owe  both  to  the  officers  and  soldiers,  to 
say  that  they  have  performed  this  march  through  roads,  al- 
most impassable,  wet  and  deep ;  they  have  marched  late  and 
early  ;  have  endured  wet,  cold,  and  hunger,  without  a  mur- 
mur or  a  complaint.  They  have  at  all  times  cheerfully  sought 
the  enemy,  and  when  engaged  and  commanded  to  charge 
them  have  rushed  upon  them  at  full  speed. 

The  enemy  had  gathered  very  little  of  the  corn  from  the 
fields  on  this  side  of  the  Rapids,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe 
they  took  but  little  off  in  their  boats  ;  what  quantity  remains 
on  the  other  shore,  I  am  not  able  to  determine. 

The  troops  encamped  this  evening  10  miles  from  this  place. 
J  left  them  this  morning,  at  10  o'clock  ;  they  will  arrive  in  the 
course  of  the  dav  to-morrow,  when  they  will  have  performed 
a  march  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  in  eight  days,  one  of 
which  was  spent  in  manoeuvring  and  contending  with  the  ene- 
my. I  am,  very  respectfully,  &c. 

(Signed)  EDWARD  W.  TUPPER. 

Brig.  Gen.  Harrison. 

Head-barters^  Franklinton,  19th  Nov.  1812. 

GENERAL    ORDERS. 

The  commanding  general  returns  his  thanks  to  brigadier- 
general  Tupper  and  the  corps  which  lately  advanced  to  the 
Miami  rapid  ^,  for  the  perseverance,  zeal,  activity,  and  bravery 
with  which  they  conducted  themselves  on  that  enterprise.  A 
casual  circumstance  only,  and  one  which  neither  the  general 
or  his  men  could  controul,  prevented  them  from  surprising 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [145 

and  cutting  to  pieces  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  equal  in 
numbers  to  their  own.  The  measures  of  general  Tupper  ap- 
pear to  have  been  highly  judicious,  both  in  his  advance  to  the 
enemv,  and  in  resisting  their  attacks.  The  general  is  sorry 
that  any  circumstance  in  an  affair  which  reflects  honour  on 
almost  the  whole  of  the  troops  engaged  in  it,  should  deserve 
his  censure — such,  however,  is  merited  by  the  small  detach- 
ment, which,  in  the  face  of  a  positive  order  from  their  com- 
mander, left  their  ranks  to  gather  corn,  and  pursue  a  drove  of 
hogs.  But  for  this  disorderly  conduct,  general  Tupper  would 
have  brought  back  in  safety  his  whole  command.  The  com- 
manding general  feels,  however,  so  much  more  to  praise  than 
blame,  in  the  conduct  of  general  Tupper's  detachment,  that 
he  derives  no  small  satisfaction  in  exhibiting  it  as  a  worthy 
example  of  military  spirit  and  enterprise  to  the  rest  of  his 
army.  .  NATHL.  F.  ADAMS, 

Deputy  Adj.  Gen. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Major-Genera/  Hopkins,  to  his  Excel- 
lency Governor  Shelby,  of  Kentucky,  dated 

Fort  Harrison,  Gtk  Oct.  1812. 

My  dear  sir,  the  expedition  of  the  mounted  riflemen  has 
terminated.  The  Wabash  was  re-crossed  yesterday,  and 
the  whole  corps  are  on  their  way  to  Busseron,  where  the  ad- 
jutant-general will  attend,  in  order  to  have  them  properly 
mustered  and  discharged  ;  and  where  their  horses  may  get 
forage  during  the  delay  necessary  for  this  object. 

Yes,  sir,  this  army  has  returned,  without  hardly  obtaining 
the  sight  of  an  enemy.  A  simple  narrative  of  facts,  as  they 
occurred,  will  best  explain  the  reasons  that  have  led  to  this 
state  of  things.  The  army  having  finished  crossing  the  Wa- 
bash on  the  14th  instant,  marched  about  three  miles  and  en- 
camped. I  here  requested  the  attendance  of  the  general  and 
field  officers  and  captains,  to  whom  I  imparted  the  objects  of 
the  expedition,  and  the  advantages  that  might  result  from  a 
fulfilment  of  them.  The  nearest  Kickapoo  villages  were 
from  80  to  100  miles  distant,  and  the  Peoria  not  more  than 
160.  By  breaking  up  these,  or  as  many  as  our  resources 
would  permit,  we  would  be  rendering  a  service  to  all  the  ter- 
ritories. That  from  their  numbers,  this  tribe  was  more  for- 
midable than  any  near  us  ;  and  from  their  situation  and  hos- 
tility, had  it  more  in  their  power  to  do  us  mischief;  of  course 
to  chastise  and  destroy  these,  would  be  rendering  real  bene- 
fit to  our  country.  It  was  observed  by  some  officers,  that 
they  would  meet  the  next  morning,  consult  together,  and 


146]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

report  to  me  their  opinion  ;  desiring  at  the  same  time  to  be 
furnished  with  the  person  on  whom  I  had  relied  for  intelli- 
gencr  of  the  country. 

This  council  was  held,  and  all  the  intelligence  furnished 
that  had  been  requested,  and  I  had  a  report  highly  favour- 
able to  the  enterpise.  This,  to  me,  was  more  gratifying,  as 
early  as  our  encampment  at  Vincennes,  discontents  and  mur- 
murings,  that  portended  no  wish  to  proceed  further.  At 
Busseron  I  found  an  evident  increase  of  discontent,  although 
no  army  was  ever  better  or  more  amply  supplied  with  rations 
and  forage  than  at  this  place.  At  Fort  Harrison,  where  we 
encamped  on  the  10th,  and  where  we  were  well  supplied  with 
forage,  &c.  I  found  on  the  12th  and  13th  many  breaking  off 
and  returning,  without  applying  to  me  for  a  discharge,  and, 
as  far  as  I  know,  without  any  notification  to  their  officers  : 
indeed  I  have  every  reason  to  suppose  the  officers  of  every 
grade,  gave  no  countenance  to  such  a  procedure. 

Thinking  myself  now  secure  in  the  confidence  of  my  bro- 
ther officers  and  the  army,  we  proceeded  on  our  march  early 
on  the  15th,  and  continued  it  four  days,  our  course  near 
north  in  the  prairie,  until  we  came  to  an  Indian  house,  where 
some  corn,  &c.  had  been  cultivated.  The  last  day  of  the 
march  to  this  place,  I  had  been  made  acquainted  with  a  re- 
turn of  that  spirit  of  discontent,  that  had,  as  I  had  hoped, 
subsided,  and  when  I  had  ordered  a  halt  near  sun-set,  (for 
the  first  time  that  day)  in  a  fine  piece  of  grass  in  the  prairie, 
to  aid  our  horses,  I  was  addressed  in  the  most  rude  and  dic- 
tatorial manner,  requiring  me  immediately  to  resume  my 
march,  or  his  battalion  would  break  from  the  armv,  and  re- 
turn!— This  was  a  major  Singleton!  I  mention  him  in  jus- 
tice to  the  other  officers  of  that  grade.  But  from  every  in- 
formation, I  began  to  fear  the  army  waited  for  a  pretext  to 
return.  This  was  afforded  next  day  by  our  guides,  who  had 
thought  they  had  discerned  an  Indian  village  on  the  side  of  a 
grove  about  ten  miles  from  where  we  encamped  on  the  fourth 
night  of  our  march,  and  turned  us  about  sixt  or  eight  miles 
out  of  our  way.  An  almost  universal  discontent  seemed  to 
prevail,  and  we  took  our  course  in  such  a  direction  as  we 
hoped  would  best  atone  for  the  error  in  the  morning.  About 
or  after  sun-set,  we  came  to  a  thin  grove  affording  water ; 
here  we  took  up  our  camp  ;  and  about  this  time  arose  one  of 
the  most  violent  gusts  of  wind  I  ever  remember  to  have 
seen,  not  proceeding  from  clouds.  The  Indians  had  set  fire 
to  the  prairie,  which  drove  on  us  so  furiously,  that  we  were 
compelled  to  fire  around  our  camp,  to  protect  ourselves. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [147 

This  seems  to  have  decided  the  army  to  return :  I  was  in- 
formed of  it  in  so  many  ways,  that  early  in  the  next  morn- 
ing (October  20th),  I  requested  the  attendance  of  the  gene- 
ral and  field  officers,  and  stated  to  them  my  apprehensions, 
the  expectations  of  our  country,  the  disgrace  attending  the 
measure,  and  the  approbation  of  our  own  consciences. — 
Against  this  I  stated  the  weary  situation  of  our  horses,  and 
the  want  of  provisions  (which  to  me  seemed  only  partial, 
six  days  having  only  passed  since  every  part  of  the  army,  as 
was  believed,  was  furnished  with  10  days  in  bacon,  beef,  or 
bread  stuff),  the  reasons  given  for  returning  ;  I  requested  the 
commandants  of  each  regiment  to  convene  the  whole  of  the 
officers  belonging  to  it,  and  to  take  fully  the  sense  of  the  ar- 
my on  this  measure  ;  report  to  commandants  of  brigades, 
who  were  requested  to  report  to  me  in  writing ;  adding  that 
if  50O  volunteers  would  turn  out,  I  would  put  myself  at  their 
head,  and  proceed  in  quest  of  the  towns ;  and  the  balance  of 
the  army  might  retreat  in  safety  to  Fort  Harrison.  In  less 
than  one  hour  the  report  was  made  almost  unanimously  to 
return.  I  then  requested  that  I  might  dictate  the  course  to 
be  pursued  that  day  only,  which  I  pledged  myself  should  not 
put  them  more  than  six  miles  out  of  the  way,  my  object  be- 
ing to  cover  the  reconnoitring  parties  I  wished  to  send  out 
for  the  discovery  of  the  Indian  towns.  About  this  time  the 
troops  being  paraded,  I  put  myself  in  front,  took  my  course, 
and  directed  them  to  follow  me ;  the  columns  moved  off 
quite  a  contrary  way.  I  sent  captain  Taylor  and  major  Lee 
to  apply  to  the  officers  leading  the  columns,  to  turn  them. 
They  were  told  it  was  not  in  their  power.  The  army  had 
taken  their  course,  and  would  pursue  it.  Discovering  great 
confusion  and  disorder  in  the  march,  I  threw  myself  in  the 
rear,  fearing  an  attack  on  those  who  were  there  from  ne- 
cessity, and  continued  in  that  position  all  day.  Neither  the 
exhausted  state  of  the  horses,  nor  the  hunger  of  the  men, 
retarded  this  cla\  's  march  ;  so  swiftly  was  it  prosecuted  that 
it  was  long  before  the  rear  arrived  at  the  encampment.  The 
generals  Ray,  Ramsey,  and  Allen,  lent  all  their  aid  and  au- 
thority in  restoring  our  march  to  order,  and  so  far  succeeded 
as  to  bring  on  the  whole  with  much  less  loss  than  I  had  fear- 
ed ;  indeed  I  have  no  reason  to  think  we  were  either  follow- 
ed or  menaced  by  an  enemy.  I  think  we  marched  at  least 
80  or  90  miles  in  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country :  had  he 
possessed  a  design  to  fight  us,  opportunities  in  abundance 
presented.  So  formidable  an  appearance  in  the  prairie, 
and  in  the  country  (as  I  ara  told)  never  trod  before  by  hos- 


148]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

tile  feet,  must  impress  the  bordering  tribes  with  a  sense  of 
their  clanger.  If  it  operates  beneficially  in  this  way,  our  la- 
bour will  not  be  altogether  in  vain. 

I  hope  the  expense  attending  this  expedition  will  be  found 
less  than  usual  on  such  occasions.  I  have  consulted  econo- 
my in  every  instance  ;  subject  only  to  real  necessity  has  been 
the  expenditure ;  the  forage  has  been  the  heaviest  article. 

To  the  officers  commanding  brigades,  many  of  the  field 
officers,  captains,  &c.  my  thanks  are  due  ;  many  of  the  old 
Kentucky  veterans,  whose  heads  are  frosted  by  time,  are  en- 
titled to  every  confidence  and  praise  their  country  can  bestow. 
To  the  adjutant,  quarter-master-general,  and  the  members  of 
my  own  family,  I  feel  indebted  for  ready,  able,  and  manly  sup- 
port, in  every  instance.  Let  me  here  include  our  friend  George 
Walker,  our  judge  advocate  general;  who  lived  with  me,  took 
more  than  a  common  share  of  fatigue  and  toil,  and  who  did  all 
in  his  power  to  further  the  service  in  the  corps  of  spies  and 
guides,  under  the  direction  of  major  Dubois,  and  the  two 
companies  of  Kentucky  and  Gwatkin,  who  encamped  near 
me,  and  were  under  myimmediate  orders.  I  experienced 
an  alertness  and  attention  highly  honourable  to  them  :  these 
corps  were  ready  to  have  gone  on  to  execute  any  service  ;  the 
whole  amounted  to  about  120,  and  deserve  honourable  men- 
tion. 

Mr.  Barren  and  Mess.  Lucelly  and  Le  Plant,  interpreters 
and  guides,  deserve  well  of  me  ;  I  am  certain  we  were  not 
20  miles  from  the  Indian  village  when  we  were  forced  to  re- 
tire, and  I  had  many  reasons  to  prove  we  were  in  the  right 
way. 

I  have  myself  (superadded  to  the  mortification  I  felt  at  thus 
returning)  been  in  a  bad  state  of  health  from  first  to  last ; 
and  am  now  so  weak  as  not  to  be  able  to  keep  myself  on  my 
horse. 

A  violent  diarrhoea  has  pursued  me  10  days  past,  and  re- 
duced me  extremely  low  ;  I  had  resolved  to  continue  with  the 
line  of  march  a  little,  if  unable  to  ride.  There  are  yet  many 
things  of  which  I  wish  to  write  ;  they  relate  substantially  to 
prospective  operations.  Soon  again  shall  I  have  the  honour 
to  address  your  excellency,  in  the  mean  time  be  assured  of 
the  perfect  consideration  and  high  regards  of  your  obedient 
friend  and  servant. 

SAMUEL  HOPKINS. 
Governor  Shclbii. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [149 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Major-General  Samuel  Hopkins,  to  his 

Excellency  Governor  Shelby. 
On  Wabash,  near  the  mouth  of  Pine  Creek, 

November  26,  1812. 

My  dear  sir,  by  colonel  Richard  Tavlor,  quarter-master- 
general,  who  goes  on  as  quick  as  possible  to  Frankfort  I 
have  it  in  my  power  to  give  you  general  information  of  the 
movements  of  the  army  since  my  last. 

On  the  llth  the  army  marched  from  Fort  Harrison,  on  the 
road  formerly  made  by  governor  Harrison's  armv,  and  the 
boats  set  out  at  the  same  time.  The  length  of  time  the  ene- 
my had  expected  us,  made  it  necessary  to  guard  ourselves  in 
an  especial  manner.  The  rise  of  the  waters,  from  the  heavy 
fall  of  rain  preceding  our  march,  and  some  large  creeks,  left 
us  no  doubt  of  considerable  difficulty  and  embarrassment ; 
insomuch  that  not  until  the  14th  did  we  pass  Sugar  creek, 
three  miles  above  the  road. 

From  every  information,  I  had  no  hesitation  in-moving  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Wabash.  The  .Vermillions,  Pine  creek, 
and  other  impediments  on  the  west  side,  superadded  to  the 
presumption  that  we  were  expected,  and  might  more  easily  be 
annoyed  and  ambuscaded  on  that  route,  determined  me  in 
this  measure.  The  boats  too,  with  our  provisions  of  rations, 
forage,  and  military  stores,  could  be  more  easily  covered  and 
protected,  as  the  line  of  march  could  be  invariably  nearer  the 
river.  Lieutenant-colonel  Barbour,  with  one  battalion  of  his 
regiment,  had  command  of  the  seven  boats,  and  encamped 
with  us  on  the  bank  of  the  river  almost  every  night.  This 
so  protracted  our  march  tha£  we  did  not  reach  the  Prophet's 
town  until  the  19th.  On  the  morning  of  this  day  I  detached 
300  men  to  surprize  the  Winebago  town  lying  on  Ponce  Pas- 
su  creek,  one  mile  from  the  Wabash  and  four  belovu  the  Pro- 
phet's.— This  party,  commanded  by  general  Butler,  sur- 
rounded the  place  about  break  of  day,  but  found  it  evacuated. 
There  were  in  the  main  town  about  40  houses,  many  of  them 
from  30  to  JO  feet  in  length,  besides  many  temporary  huts 
in  the  surrounding  prairie,  in  which  they  had  cultivated  a 
good  deal  of  corn.  On  the  2Oth,  21st,  and  22d,  we  were 
embarked  in  the  complete  destruction  of  the  Prophet's  town, 
which  had  about  40  cabins  and  huts ;  and  the  large  Kiclcapoo 
village  adjoining  below  it  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  con- 
sisting of  about  16O  cabins  and  huts  ;  finding  and  destroying 
their  corn,  reconnoitring  the  circumjacent  countrv,  and  con- 
structing works  for  the  defence  of  our  boats  and  army.  Se- 
ven miles  east  of  us,  on  the  Ponce  Passu  creek,  a  party  of 

VOL.  I.  PART  IT.  [X] 


150]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Indians  were  discovered  ;  they  had  fired  on  a  small  party  of 
ours  on  the  21st,  and  killed  a  man  by  the  name  of  Dunn,  a 
gallant  soldier  in  captain  Duval's  company.  On  the  22d  up- 
wards of  60  horsemen,  under  the  command  of  lieutenant-co- 
lonels Miller  and  Wilcox,  anxious  to  bury  their  comrade,  as 
well  as  gain  a  more  complete  knowledge  of  the  ground,  went 
on  to  a  point  near  the  Indian  encampment,  fell  into  an  am- 
buscade, and  18  of  our  party  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 
Among  these  are  three  hopeful  young  officers,  and  one  pri- 
vate from  the  8th  (Wilcox's)  regiment,  Mars,  Edwards,  Mur- 
ray, and  the  private  Webb,  presumed  to  be  killed ;  the  other 
14  were  of  the  rangers.  On  the  return  of  this  party,  and 
the  information  of  a  large  assemblage  of  the  enemy,  who, 
encouraged  by  the  strength  of  their  camp,  appeared  to  be 
waiting  for  us,  every  preparation  was  made  to  march  early, 
and  engage  the  enemy  at  every  risk  ;  when,  from  the  most 
violent  storm  and  fall  of  snow,  attended  with  the  coldest 
weather  1  ever  saw  or  felt  at  this  season  of  the  year,  and 
which  did  not  subside  until  the  evening  of  the  23d,  we  were 
delayed  until  the  24th.  Upon  arriving  on  the  ground,  we 
found  the  enemy  had  deserted  their  camp  before  the  fall  of 
the  snow,  and  passed  to  Ponce  Passu.  I  have  no  doubt  but 
their  ground  was  the  strongest  I  ever  have  seen — the  deep 
rapid  creek  spoken  of  was  in  their  rear,  running  in  a  semi- 
circle, and  fronted  by  a  bluff  1OO  feet  high,  almost  perpendi- 
cular, and  only  to  be  penetrated  by  three  steep  ravines.  If  the 
enemy  would  not  defend  themselves  here,  it  was  evident  they 
did  not  intend  fighting  at  all.  After  reconnoitring  suffi- 
ciently, we  returned  to  camp,  and  found  the  ice  so  accumu- 
lated as  to  alarm  us  for  the  return  of  the  boats.  1  had  fully 
intended  to  have  spent  one  more  week  in  endeavouring  to 
find  the  Indian  camps  ;  but  the  shoeless,  shirtless  state  of  the 
troops,  now  clad  in  the  remnants  of  the  summer  dress  ;  a 
river  full  of  ice ;  the  hills  covered  with  snow  ;  a  rigid  cli- 
mate, and  no  certain  point  to  which  we  could  further  direct 
our  operations ;  under  the  influence  of  the  advice  of  every 
staff  and  fit-Id  officer,  orders  were  given  and  measures  pur- 
sued for  our  return  on  the  25th. 

We  are  now  progressing  to  Fort  Harrison,  through  ice 
and  snow,  where  we  expect  to  arrive  on  the  last  day  of  this 
month.  From  Vincennes  I  shall  have  the  honour  of  ad- 
dressing your  excellency  again ;  but  before  I  close  this,  I 
cannot  forbear  expressing  the  merits  of  the  officers  and  sol- 
diers of  this  command.  After  leaving  at  Fort  Harrison  all 
unfit  for  duty,  we  had  in  privates  of  everv  corps  about  tooo 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [15i 

— in  the  total  125O,  or  thereabouts.  At  the  Prophet's  town, 
upwards  of  10O  of  these  were  on  the  sick  report.  Yes,  sir, 
we  have  progressed  in  such  order  as  to  menace  our  enemy? 
free  from  any  annoyance  ;  seven  large  keel-boats  have  been 
covered  and  protected  to  a  point  heretofore  unknown  in  In- 
dian expeditions ;  three  large  Indian  establishments  have 
been  burnt  and  destroyed,  with  near  three  miles  of  fence, 
(and  all  the  corn,  &c.  we  could  find)  besides  many  smaller 
ones ;  the  enemy  have  been  sought  in  their  strong  holds, 
and  every  opportunity  afforded  them  to  attack  or  alarm  us ; 
a  march  on  the  east  side  of  the  Wabash,  without  road  or 
cognizance  of  the  country,  fully  100  miles  perfected ;  and 
this  has  been  done  with  a  naked  army  of  infantry,  aided  by 
only  about  50  rangers  and  spies.  All  this  was  done  in  2O 
days — no  sigh,  no  murmur,  no  complaint. 

I  certainly  feel  particuar  obligations  to  my  friends  general 
Butler,  and  colonel  Taylor,  for  their  effectual  and  ready  aid 
in  their  line ;  as  also  to  captain  Z.  Taylor,  of  the  seventh 
United  States'  regiment;  Messrs.  Gist  and  Richeson,  my 
aids-de-camp,  and  major  J.  C.  Breckenridge,  my  secretary, 
for  a  prompt  and  effectual  support  in  every  instance.  The  firm 
and  almost  unparalleled  defence  of  Fort  Harrison,  by  cap- 
tain Z.  Taylor,  has  raised  for  him  a  fabric  of  character  not 
to  be  effaced  by  my  eulogy.  To  colonel  Barbour,  for 'his 
officer-like  management,  in  conducting  and  commanding  the 
boats,  my  thanks  are  due,  as  also  to  colonels  Miller  and  Wil- 
cox,  and  to  major  Hughes  and  Shacklet,  and  to  the  captains 
and  subalterns  of  the  army  generally.  From  lieutenants  Ri- 
cheson, Hawkins,  and  Sullivan,  of  the  United  States'  troops, 
I  have  to  acknowledge  my  obligations  for  their  steady  and 
uniform  conduct,  as  well  as  captain  Beckers,  of  the  rangers, 
captain  Washburn,  of  the  spies,  and  the  staff  generally. 

Let  me  refer  your  excellency  to  colonel  Taylor  for  more 
minute  information ;  and  believe  me,  with  high  regard  and 
consideration,  to  be,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

SAMUEL  HOPKINS. 

Copijofa  Letter  from  Colonel  Russell,command'mg  a  Detachment 
of  the  United  States'  Rangers,  to  the  Secretary  at  War,  dated 

Camp  Rnsnell^  31st  Oct.  1812. 

Sir,  this  will  inform  you  that  I  arrived  a*  this  place  from 
Vincennes,  after  general  Hopkins  had  marched  his  mounted 
riflemen  up  to  Fort  Harrison.  I  took  with  me  part  of  three 
companies  of  the  United  States'  Rangers,  where  I  was  joined 
by  governor  Edwards  with  his  mounted  riflemen.  The  whole 


152]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

of  our  strength  only  amounted  to  360  privates.  We  pene- 
trated very  far  in  the  Indian  country,  with  an  expectation  of 
co-operating  with  general  Hopkins,  who  by  appointment  was 
to  mi  et  us  at  the  Peoria,  on  the  Illinois  river.  In  this  we 
were  sadly  disappointed,  as  we  could  get  no  intelligence  of 
his  army.  This  prevented  us  from  doing  as  much  damage 
to  the  Indians,  as  otherwise  we  could  have  done;  as  our  num- 
bers were  two  weak  to  make  any  delav  in  that  quarter,  as  this 
was  farther  than  any  troops  had  hitherto  penetrated.  We 
stole  a  march  upon  the  celebrated  Pimertam's  town,  situated 
about  twenty-one  miles  above  Peoria  Lake.  This  was  a  well 
built  town,  and  contained  a  number  of  Indians.  Between  the 
town  and  river  was  a  dismal  swamp,  in  which  they  immediately 
flew  for  shelter,  returning  a  few  scattered  shots.  Our  men  no- 
bly pursued  them  through  the  swamp  for  three  miles,  up  to 
their  waists  in  mud  and  water,  and  killed  some  of  them  in  the 
swamp,  and  also  others  as  they  were  crossing  the  Illinois  river; 
the  men  also  pursued  them  to  the  opposite  bank,  and  brought 
back  some  of  their  canoes  and  several  dead  bodies.  The  gover- 
nor states  upwards  of  twenty  to  be  killed  of  the  enemy.  This 
was  a  flourishing  town,  with  an  immense  deal  of  Indian  plun- 
der in  it,  together  with  a  great  deal  of  corn,  "all  of  which  was 
committed  to  the  flames.  I  believe  that  not  less  than  eighty 
horses  fell  into  our  hands,  belonging  to  the  enemy.  Sr veral 
white  persons'  scalps  were  also  found  amongst  their  plunder. 
I  had  the  immediate  command  of  the  battalion,  and  the  superior 
command  was  retained  by  his  excellency  the  governor,  On 
this  expedition  we  were  fortunate ;  we  had  four  men  wound- 
ed, none  of  whom  mortally*.  This  tour  was  performed  from 
this  camp  and  back  to  the  same  place  in  thirteen  clays. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  high  respec  t,  your  obedient 
servant, 

PW.  RUSSELL, 
Col.  7th  and  Dzst.  C'ommandt. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Lieutenant-Colonel  Campbell  to  General 

Harrison,  dattd 
Camp  on  Miss'isxinewa,  tivo  miles  above  Silver  Heels, 

December  12,  1812. 

Dear  general,  after  a  fatiguing  march  of  three  days  and 
one  night  from  Greenville,  I  arrived  with  the  detachment  un- 
der my  command  at  a  town  on  the  Mississinewa,  thought  by 
the  spies  to  be  Silver  Heels'  town;  but  proved  to  be.  a  town 
settled  by  a  mixture  of  Delaware  and  Miami  Indians. 

About  eight  o'clock  on  the   morning  of  the  17th,    unclis- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [153 

covered,  a  charge  was  made  upon  the  town,  when  many  fled 
over  the  river,  others  surrendered — those  who  fled  made  re- 
sistance after  crossing,  by  firing  across  the  river.  Thirty- 
seven  prisoners  are  taken,  whom  I  shall  bring  in  with  me,  in- 
cluding men,  women,  and  children — seven  warriors  were 
killed.  After  disposing  of  the  prisoners,  I  marched  a  part 
of  the  detachment  down  the  river,  and  burned  three  villages 
without  resistance ;  I  then  returned  and  encamped  on  the 
ground  where  stood  the  first  village  attacked. 

This  morning  about  day-light,  or  a  little  before,  mv  camp 
was  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians,  (the  number  unknown, 
but  supposed  to  be  between  two  and  three  hundred),  on  my 
right  line  occupied  by  major  Ball's  squadron,  who  gallantly 
resisted  them  for  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  when  the 
Indians  retreated,  after  being  most  gallantly  charged  by  cap- 
tain Trotter  at  the  head  of  his  troop'of  cavalry..  We  lost  in 
the  first  action  one  killed  and  one  wounded  (by  accident  the 

st) — in  the  action  of  this  morning,  we  have  eight  killed, 
and  about  twenty-five  or  thirty  wounded;  not  having  yet  got- 
ten a  report,  I  am  unable  to  state  the  number  exactly.  The 
Indians  have  lost  about  forty  killed,  from  the  discoveries 
now  made  ;  the  spies  are  out  at  present  ascertaining  the  num- 
ber. I  have  sent  to  Greenville  for  a  reinforcement,  and  send 
you  this  hasty  sketch.  A. detailed  report  shall  hereafter  be 
made  known  to  you,  noticing  particularly  those  companies 
and  individuals,  who  have  distinguished  themselves  signally. 

I  anticipate  another  attack  before  I  reach  Greenville,  but 
rest  assured,  ni\  dear  general,  they  shall  be  warmly  received. 
I  have  a  detachment  composed  of  the  bravest  fellows,  both 
officers  and  soldiers,  in  the  world.  Our  return  will  be  com- 
menced this  morning.  Among  our  killed  I  have  to  deplore 
the  loss  of  the  brave  captain  Pierce — lieutenant  Waltz,  of 
captain  Markle's  troop  of  cavalry,  is  also  mortallv  wounded. 
Their  gallant  conduct  shall  be  noticed  hereafter,  Yours,  with 
the  greatest  respect  and  esteem, 

(Signed)  JOHN  B.  CAMPBELL, 

Lt.-col.  IVthReg.  U.  S.  Infantry. 
Gen.  W.  H.  Harrison^  com.  N.  W.  Army. 


154]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

AMERICAN    AND    BRITISH    ACCOUNTS    OF    THE  CAPTURE    AND 
DESTRUCTION    OF    THE    JAVA. 

Letter  from  Commodore  Bainbridge  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

United  States'  Frigate  Constitution,  St.  Salvadore,  3d  Jan.  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  YOU,  that  on  the  29th  ult. 
at  2,  P.  M.,  in  south  latitude  13°  6',  and  west  longitude 
38°,  about  ten  leagues  distance  from  the  coast  of  Brazils,  I 
fell  in  with  and  captured  his  Britannic  majesty's  frigate  Java, 
of  49  guns,  and  upwards  of  400  men,  commanded  by  cap- 
tain Lambert,  a  very  distinguished  officer.  The  action  lasted 
one  hour  55  minutes,  in  which  time  the  enemy  was  com- 
pletely dismasted,  not  having  a  spar  of  any  kind  standing. 
The  loss  on  board  the  Constitution  was  nine  killed  and  25 
wounded.  The  enemy  had  60  killed  and  1O1  wounded  cer- 
tainly (among  the  latter  captain  Lambert,  mortally)  ;  but  by 
the  enclosed  letter  written  on  board  this  ship  (by  one  of  the 
officers  of  the  Java),  and  accidentally  found,  it  is  evident  that 
the  enemy's  wounded  must  have  been  much  greater  than  as 
above  stated,  and  who  must  have  died  of  their  wounds  pre- 
viously to  their  being  removed.  The  letter  states  GO  killed 
and  170  wounded. 

For  further  details  of  the  action,  I  beg  leave  to  refer  you 
to  the  enclosed  extracts  from  my  journal.  The  Java  had,  in 
addition  to  her  own  crew,  upwards  of  100  supernumerary 
officers  and  seamen  to  join  the  British  ships  of  war  in  the 
East  Indies ;  also  lieutenant-gener.il  Hislop,  appointed  to  the 
command  of  Bombay,  major  Walker  and  captain  Wood  oi 
his  staff,  and  captain  Marshall,  master  and  commander  in  the 
British  navy,  going  to  the  East  Indies  to  take  command 
of  a  sloop  of  war  there. 

Should  I  attempt  to  do  justice  by  representation  to  the 
brave  and  good  conduct  of  all  my  officers  and  crew,  during 
the  action,  I  should  fail  in  the  attempt ;  therefore,  suffice  it 
to  say,  that  the  whole  of  their  conduct  was  such  as  to  merit 
my  highest  encomiums.  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  the  offi- 
cers particularly  to  the  notice  of  government,  as  also  the  un- 
fortunate seamen  who  were  wounded,  and  the  families  of 
those  brave  men  who  fell  in  the  action. 

The  great  distance  from  our  own  coast,  and  the  perfect 
wreck  we  made  the  enemy's  frigate,  forbad  every  idea  of  at- 
tempting to  take  her  to  the  United  States,  I  had,  therefore, 
no  alternative  but  burning  her,  which  I  did  on  the  31st  ult. 
after  receiving  all  the  prisoners  and  their  baggage,  which 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [155 

was  very  tedious^vork,  only  having  one  boat  left  (out  of 
eight),  and  not  one  left  on  board  the  Java. 

On  blowing  up  the  frigate  Java,  I  proceeded  to  this  place, 
where  I  have  landed  all  the  prisoners  on  their  parole,  to  re- 
turn to  England,  and  there  remain  until  regularly  exchanged, 
and  not  to  serve  in  their  professional  capacities  in  any  place 
or  in  any  manner  whatever  against  the  United  States  of 
America,  until  their  exchange 'shall  be  effected. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  with  the  greatest  repsect, 
(Signed)  W.  BAINBRIDGE. 

List  of  Military  and  Naval  Officers  paroled. 
Military  officers.  One  lieutenant-general,  one  major,  one 
captain.  Naval  officers.  One  post-captain,  one  master  and 
commander,  five  lieutenants,  three  lieutenants  of  marines, 
one  surgeon,  two  assisting  surgeons,  one  purser,  fifteen  mid- 
shipmen, one  gunner,  one  boatswain,  one  master,  one  carpen- 
ter, two  captain's  clerks,  and  323  petty  officers,  seamen,  ma- 
rines, and  boys,  exclusive  of  nine  Portuguese  seamen,  libe- 
rated and  given  up  to  the  governor  of  St.  Salvadore,  and  three 
passengers,  private  characters,  whom  the  commodore  did  not 
consider  prisoners  of  war,  and  permitted  them  to  land  with- 
out any  restraint.  Total  paroled,  361. 

Extract  from  the  Journal  referred  to  in  the  above  Letter. 

Tuesday,  Dec.  29,  1812. 

At  nine,  A.  M.,  discovered  two  strange  sails  on  the  wea- 
ther bow.  At  ten,  discovered  the  strange  sails  to  be  ships ; 
one  of  them  stood  in  for  the  land,  and  the  other  stood  off 
shore,  in  a  direction  towards  us.  At  1O  45,  A.  M.,  we  tack- 
ed ship  to  the  northward  and  westward,  and  stood  for  the 
sail  standing  towards  us ;  at  11,  A.  M.,  tacked  to  the  south- 
ward and  eastward,  hauled  up  the  main-sail,  and  took  in  the 
royals.  At  3O  minutes  after  11,  made  the  private  signal  for 
the  day,  which  was  not  answered,  and  then  set  the  main-sail 
and  royals  to  draw  the  strange  sail  off  from  the  neutral  coast, 
and  separate  her  from  the  sail  in  company. 

Wednesday,  30th  Dec.  (nautical  time).  In  latitude  13° 
6'  S.  longitude  38°,  W.  ten  leagues  from  the  coast  of  Brazil, 
commences  with  clear  weather  and  moderate  breezes  from 
E.  N.  E.  hoisted  our  ensign  and  pendant.  At  15  minutes 
past  meridian,  the  ship  hoisted  her  colours — an  English  en- 
sign, having  a  signal  flying  at  main. 

At  1  26,  P.  M.  beins  sufficiently  from  the  land,  and  find- 


156J  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

ing  the  ship  to  be  an  English  frigate,  togk  in  the  main-sail 
and  royals,  tarked  ship,  and  stood  for  the  enemy.  At  1  5O, 
P.  M.,  the  enemy  bore  down  with  an  intention  of  raking  us, 
which  we  avoided  by  wearing.  At  2,  P.  M.,  the  enemy  be- 
ing within  half  a  mile  of  us,  and  to  windward,  and  hav- 
ing hauled  down  his  colours  except  the  union,  the  jack  at  the 
mizen-mast  head,  induced  me  to  give  orders  to  the  officer  of 
the  3d  division  to  fire  a  gun  a-Head  of  the  enemy,  to  make  him 
show  his  colours,  which  being  done,  brought  on  a  fire  from 
us  of  the  whole  broadside,  on  which  the  enemy  hoisted  his 
colours,  and  immediately  returned  our  fire.  A  general  ac- 
tion, with  round  and  grape,  then  commenced;  the  entmy 
keeping  at  a  much  greater  distance  than  I  wished ;  but  could 
not  bring  him  to  a  closer  action,  without  exposing  ourselves 
to  several  rakes.  Considerable  manoeuvres  were  made  by 
both  vessels  to  rake  and  avoid  being  raked.  The  following 
minutes  were  taken  during  the  action  : — 

"  At  2  10,  P.  M.  commenced  the  action  within  good  grape 
and  cannister  distance,  the  enemy  to  windward  (but  much 
farther  than  I  wished). 

"  At  2  30,  our  wheel  was  shot  entirely  away. 

"  At  2  4O,  determined  to  close  with  the  enemy,  notwith- 
standing his  raking.  Set  the  fore  and  main-sail,  and  luffed 
up  close  to  him. 

"At  2  50,  the  enemy's  jib-boom  got  foul  of  our  mizen 
rigging. 

"  At  3,  the  head  of  the  enemy's  bowsprit  and  jib-boom 
shot  away  by  us. 

"  At  3  5,  shot  away  the  enemy's  fore-mast  by  the  board. 

"At  3  15,  shot  away  his  main-top  mast  just  above  the  cap. 

"  At  3  40,  shot  away  the  gaft  and  spanker  boom. 

"At  3  55,  shot  away  his  mizen-mast  nearly  by  the  board. 

"  At  4  05,  having  silenced  the  fire  of  the  enemy  complete- 
ly, and  his  colours  in  main  rigging  being  down,  supposed  he 
had  struck  ;  then  hauled  down  the  courses  to  shoot  a-head  to 
repair  our  rigging,  which  was  extremely  cut;  leaving*  the 
enemy  a  complete  wreck :  soon  after  discovered  that  the  ene- 
my's flag  was  still  flying.  Hove  to,  to  repair  some  of  our  da- 
mage. 

"  At  20  minutes  past  4,  the  enemy's  main-mast  went  near- 
ly by  the  board. 

*'  At  5O  minutes  past  4,  wore  ship  and  stood  for  the  enemy. 

"  At  25  minutes  past  5,  got  very  close  to  the  enemy  in  a 
very  effectual  raking  position,  athwart  his  bows,  and  was  at 
the  very  instant  of  raking  him,  when  he  most  prudently  struck 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [157 

his  Hag,  for,  had  he  suffered  the  broadside  to  have  raked  him, 
his  additional  loss  must  have  been  extremely  great — as  he 
lay  an  unmanageable  wreck  upon  the  water." 

After  the  enemy  had  struck,  wore  ship,  and  reefed  the  top- 
sails— then  hoisted  out  one  of  the  only  two  remaining  boats 
we  had  left  out  of  eight,  and  sent  lieutenant  Parker,  first  of 
the  Constitution,  to  take  possession  of  the  enemy,  which 
proved  to  be  his  Britannic  majesty's  frigate  Java,  rated  38, 
but  carried  49  guns,  and  manned  with  upwards  of  400  men, 
commanded  by  captain  Lambert,  a  very  distinguished  officer, 
who  was  mortally  woundedi  ,The  action  continued,  fronvcom- 
mencement  to  the  end  of  the  fire,  one  hour  and  55  minutes. 
The  Constitution  had  9  killed,  and  25  wounded.  The  ene- 
my had  60  killed,  and  101  certainly  wounded;  but  by  a  let- 
ter written  on  board  the  Constitution  by  one,of  the  officers  of 
the  Java,  and  accidentally  found,  it  is  evident  the  enemy's 
wounded  must  have  been  considerably  greater  than  as  above 
stated,  and  who  must  have  died  of  their  wounds  previously 
to  being  removed.  The  letter  states  60  killed,  and  170 
wounded.  The  Java  had  her  own  complement  of  men  com- 
plete, and  upwards  of  100  supernumeraries,  going  to  join 
the  British  ships  of  war  in  the  East  Indies  ;•  also  several  offi- 
cers, passengers,  going  out  on  promotion.  The  force  of  the 
enemy  in  number  of  men  at  the  commencement  of  the  ac- 
tion is  no  doubt  considerably  greater  than  we  have  been  able 
to  ascertain — which  is  upwards  of  400  men.  The  officers 
were  extremely  cautious  in  discovering  the  number.  By  her 
quarter  bill,  she  had  one  man  more  stationed  to  each  gun 
than  we  had. 

The  Constitution  was  very  much  cut  in  her  sails  and  rig- 
ging, and  many  of  her  spars  injured. 

At  7,  P.  M.,  the  boat  returned  with  lieutenant  Chads,  the 
first  lieutenant  of  the  enemy's  frigate,  and  lieutenant-general 
Hislop  (appointed  governor  of  Bombay),  major  Walker,  and 
captain  Hood. 

Captain  Lambert  was  too  dangerously  wounded  to  be  re- 
moved immediately.  The  cutter  returned  on  board  the 
prize  for  the  prisoners,  and  brought  captain  Marshall,  master 
and  commander,  of  the  British  navy,  who  was  passenger  on 
board,  also  several  other  naval  officers. 

The  Java  was  an  important  ship,  fitted  out  in  the  com- 
pletest  manner  to  carry  lieutenant-general  Hislop  and  staff  to 
Bombay. 

•"OT,V  y.    PART  IT.  [Vj 


158]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Admiralty  Office,  London,  April  20. 
Letter1!  of  which  the  following  are  Copies  and  Extracts,  have 

been    transmitted  to  the  Office  by  Lieutenant  Chads,  late  1st 

Lieutenant  of  His  Majftty's  Shift  Java. 

United  Stated  Frigate  Constitution, 
off  St.  Sahadore,  Dec.  31,  1812. 

Sir,  it  is  with  deep  regret  that  I  write  you,  that  his  majes- 
ty's ship  Java  is  no  more,  after  sustaining  an  action  on  the 
29th  instant,  for  several  hours,  with  the  American  frigate 
Constitution,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  and  ultimate  de- 
struction of  his  majesty's  ship.  Captain  Lambert  being  dan- 
gerously wounded  in  the  height  of  the  action,  the  melan- 
choly task  of  writing  the  detail  devolves  on  me. 

On  the  29th  instant,  at  8,  A.  M.,  off  St.  Salvadore  (coast  of 
Brazil),  the  wind  at  N.  E.  we  perceived  a  strange  sail :  made  all 
sail  in  chase,  soon  made  her  out  to  be  a  large  frigate  ;  at  noon 
prepared  for  action,  the  chase  not  answering  our  private  sig- 
nals, and  tacking  towards  us  under  easy  sail ;  when  about  four 
miles  distant  she  made  a  signal,  and  immediately  tacked  and 
made  all  sail  upon  the  wind.  We  soon  found  we  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  her  in  sailing ;  and  came  up  with  her  fast,  when 
she  hoisted  American  colours;  she  bore  about  three  points 
on  our  lee-bow.  At  50  minutes  past  1,  P.  M.,  the  enemy 
shortened  sail,  upon  which  we  bore  down  upon  her;  at  1O 
minutes  past  2,  when  about  half  a  mile  distant,  she  opened 
her  fire  by  giving  us  her  larboard  broadside,  which  was  not 
returned  until  we  were  close  on  her  weather  bow.  Both 
ships  now  manoeuvred,  to  obtain  advantageous  positions,  our 
opponent  evidently  avoiding  close  action,  and  firing  high,  to 
disable  our  masts,  in  which  she  succeeded  too  well,  having 
shot  away  the  head  of  our  bowsprit,  with  the  jib-boom,  and 
our  running  rigging  so  much  cut  as  to  prevent  our  reaching 
the  weather  gauge. 

At  five  minutes  past  3,  finding  the  enemy's  raking  fire  ex- 
tremely heavy,  captain  Lambert  ordered  the  ship  to  be  laid 
on  board,  in  which  we  should  have  succeeded,  had  not  our 
fore-mast  been  shot  away  at  this  moment,  the  remains  of  our 
bowsprit  passing  over  his  taffrail ;  shortly  after  this  the  main 
topmast  went,  leaving  the  ship  totally  unmanageable,  with 
most  of  our  starboard  guns  rendered  useless  from  the  wreck 
lying  over  them. 

At  half  past  three  our  gallant  captain  received  a.  danger- 
ous wound  in  the  breast,  and  was  carried  below ;  from  this 
time  we  could  not  fire  more  than  two  or  three  guns  until  a 
quarter  past  4,  when  our  mizen  mast  was  shot  away  ;  then  fell 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [159 

oft"  a  little,  and  brought  many  of  our  starboard  guns  to  bear ; 
the  enemy's  rigging  was  so  much  cut  that  he  could  not  avoid 
shooting  a-head,  which  brought  us  fairly  broadside  and 
broadside.  Our  main-yard  now  went  in  the  slings;  both 
ships  continued  engaged  in  this  manner  till  35  minutes  past 
4,  we  frequently  on  fire,  in  consequence  of  the  wreck  lying 
on  the  side  engaged.  Our  opponent  now  made  sail  a-head 
out  of  gun  shot,  where  he  remained  an  hour  repairing  his 
damages,  leaving  us  an  unmanageable  wreck,  with  only  the 
main-mast  left,  and  that  tottering.  Every  exertion  was  made 
by  us  during  this  interval,  to  place  the  ship  in  a  state  to  re- 
new the  action.  We  succeeded  in  clearing  the  wreck  of  our 
masts  from  our  guns,  a  sail  was  set  on  the  stumps  of  the 
foremast  and  bowsprit,  the  weather  half  of  the  main-yard  re- 
maining aloft,  the  main  tack  was  got  forward  in  the  hope 
of  getting  the  ship  before  the  wind,  our  helm  being  still  per- 
fect ;  the  effort  unfortunately  proved  ineffectual,  from  the 
main-mast  falling  over  the  side,  from  the  heavy  rolling  of  the 
ship,  which  nearly  covered  the  whole  of  our  starboard  guns. 
We  waited  the  attack  of  the  enemy,  he  now  standing  to- 
wards us  for  that  purpose  ;  on  his  coming  nearly  within  hail 
of  us,  and  from  his  manoeuvre,  perceiving  he  intended  a  po- 
sition a-head,  where  he  could  rake  us  without  a  possibility 
of  our  returning  a  shot :  I  then  consulted  the  officers,  who 
agreed  with  myself,  that  our  having  a  great  part  of  our  crew 
killed  and  wounded,  our  bowsprit  and  three  masts  gone,  se- 
veral guns  useless,  we  should  not  be  justified  in  wasting  the 
lives  of  more  of  those  remaining,  who  I  hope  their  lord- 
ships and  the  country  will  think  have  bravely  defended  his 
majesty's  ship  ;  under  these  circumstances,  however  reluc- 
tantly, at  SO  minutes  past  5,  our  colours  were  lowered  from 
the  stump  of  the  mizen-mast,  and  we  were  taken  possession 
of  a  little  after  6,  by  the  American  frigate  Constitution,  com- 
manded by  commodore  Bainbridge,  who,  immediately  after 
ascertaining  the  state  of  the  ship,  resolved  on  burning  her, 
which  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  done  as  soon  as  the 
wounded  men  were  removed.  Annexed  I  send  vou  a  return 
of  the  killed  and  wounded,  and  it  is  with  pain  I  perceive  it 
so  numerous ;  also  a  statement  of  the  comparative  force  of 
the  two  ships,  when  I  hope  their  lordships  will  not  think  the 
British  flag  tarnished,  although  success  has  not  attended  us. 
It  would  be  presumptuous  in  me  to  speak  of  captain  Lam- 
bert's merits,  who,  though  still  in  danger  from  his  wound, 
we  still  entertain  the  greatest  hopes  of  his  being  restored  to 
the  service  of  his  country. 


160]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

It  is  most  gratifying  to  my  feelings  to  notice  the  gallantry 
of  evi°ry  officer,  seaman,  and  marim  on  board  ;  in  justice  to 
the  officers,  I  beg  leave  to  mention  them  individually.  I  can 
never  speak  too  highly  of  the  able  exertions  of  lieutenants 
Harrington  and  Buchanan,  and  nlso  Mr.  Robinson,  master, 
who  was  severely  wounded,  and  lieutenants  Mercer  and  Da- 
vis, of  the  marines,  the  latter  of  whom  also  was  severely 
wounded. — To  captain  John  Marshall,  R.  N.  who  was  a  pas- 
senger, I  am  particularly  obliged  for  his  exertions  and  advice 
throughout  the  action.  To  lieutenant  Alpin,  who  was  on  the 
main  deck,  and  lieutenant  Saurders,  who  commanded  on  the 
forecastle,  I  also  return  my  thanks.  I  cannot  hut  notice  the 
good  conduct  of  the  mates  and  midshipmen,  many  of  whom 
are  killed,  and  the  greater  part  wounded.  To  Mr.  T.  D. 
Jones,  surgeon,  and  his  assistants,  every  praise  is  due  for 
their  unwearied  assiduity  in  the  care  of  the  wounded.  Lieu- 
tenant-general Hislop,  major  Walker,  and  captain  Wood,  of 
his  staff,  the  latter  of  whom  was  wounded,  were  solicitous  to 
assist  and  remain  on  the  quarter-deck. 

I  cannot  conclude  this  letter  without  expressing  my  grate- 
ful acknowledgments,  thus  publicly,  for  the  generous  treat- 
ment captain  Lambert  and  his  officers  have  experienced  from 
our  gallant  enemy,  commodore  Bainbridge  and  his  officers. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

HY.  D.  CHADS. 

P.  S.  The  Constitution  has  also  suffered  severely  both  in 
her  rigging  and  men,  having  her  fore  and  mizen  masts,  main 
top-mast,  both  main  top-sail  yards,  spanker-boom,  gaff,  and 
top-sail  mast  badly  shot,  and  the  greatest  part  of  the  standing 
rigging  very  much  damaged,  with  10  men  killed,  the  com- 
mander, fifth  lieutenant,  and  46  men  wounded,  four  of  whom 
are  since  dead. 

Foj-ce  of  the  twojShips. 

Java — 28  long  18  pounders — 16  carronades,  32  pounders 
— two  long  9  pounders — 46  guns.  Weight  of  metal  1034lbs. 
— Ships'  company  and  supernumeraries,  377. 

Constitution — 22  long  24  pounders — 22  carronades,  32 
pounders — one  carronade,  18  pounder,  55 — Weight  of  me- 
tal, 1490lbs Crew,  48O. 

[Here  follow  the  lists  of  the  killed  and  wounded :  22  kill- 
ed, 102  wounded.] 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [161 

CRUIZE    OF    THE    CHESAPEAKE. 

Copies  of  Letters  from  Captain  Evans,  commanding  the  Frigate 
Chesapeake,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

United  States'*  Frigate  Chesapeake,  at  Sea, 

January  13,  1813. 

Sir,  you  will  receive  this  by  the  British  ship  Volunteer, 
which  we  captured  this  morning,  on  her  passage  to  the  Bra- 
zils. She  is  one  of  a  large  convoy  that  sailed  from  Cork  on 
the  19th  ult.  for  the  West  Indies  and  South  America;  she 
parted  with  the  West  India  convoy  on  the  3d  instant,  off 
Madeira,  and  on  the  7th  she  parted  with  the  Cherub  sloop, 
having  under  her  convoy  11  ships  bound  to  South  America 
and  the  Pacific  ocean. 

The  ship  has  on  board  salt  and  dry  goods,  and  I  have  or- 
dered her  to  the  United  States,  under  charge  of  midshipman 
Yarnail,  who,  from  his  merit,  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  to 
your  attention. 

On  the  first  instant,  while  I  was  despatching  the  American 
brig  Julia,  by  which  vessel  I  had  the  honour  of  addressing 
you,  we  were  chased  by  two  ships.  As  I  am  anxious  to  dis- 
patch the  Volunteer,  so  as  to  proceed  to  the  eastward  in  quest 
of  the  convoy,  I  beg  to  refer  you  for  further  particulars  to 
an  extract  from  my  journal  on  that  day. 

"  At  half  past  three,  P.  M.,  discovered  a  sail  bearing  E.  S. 
E. — made  all  sail  in  chase — at  five  came  up  with  the  jghase — 
sent  a  boat  on  board  with  lieutenant  Page,  and  found  her  to  be 
the  American  brig  Julia,  of  Boston,  from  Lisbon  bound  to 
Boston.  On  examination,  lieutenant  Page  discovered  she  had 
two  British  licences — brought  the  captain  on  board.  At  half 
past  eight,  sent  the  captain  of  the  brig  on  board  her.  At  nine, 
the  boat  returned,  leaving  lieutenant  Budd  on  board  the  brig, 
with  directions  to  keep  near  us  all  night,  as  I  had  determined 
to  send  a  midshipman  in  her  to  Boston  with  the  licences  and 
her  papers.  Wore  to  the  southward  and  eastward — at  half  past 
seven,  A.  M.,  wore  ship  to  the  northward  and  westward,  and 
hove  to,  and  sent  for  the  captain  of  the  brig.  At  half  past  eight, 
two  ships  were  discovered  in  chase  of  us,  bearing  W.  S.  W. 
At  half  past  nine  -discovered  them  to  be  ships  of  war — sent  Mr. 
Blodget  and  the  captain  on  board  the  brig  to  proceed  to  Bos- 
ton. On  the  boat's  returning  with  lieutenant  Budd,  run  her  up 
and  wore  round,  and  stood  E.  by  S.,  under  the  top-sails,  to 
draw  the  vessels,  in  chase  of  us,  more  from  the  brig,  and  to 
ascertain  more  correctly  their  force.  At  ten,  backed  the  mi- 


162]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

zen  top-sail — ?.t  half  past  filled  it,  and  hauled  up  E.  S.  E. 
get  to  windward  of  them.  Clawed  the  sail  up.  At  this  time 
thick  and  squally,  lost  sight  of  the  two  ships.  At  meri- 
dian strong  gales  and  squally — the  ship  under  reefed  fore- 
sail and  main-top-sail — top-gallant-masts  housed,  flying  jib- 
boom  in  and  gaff  down.  At  2,  P.  M-,  it  clearing  away  a  little, 
we  wore  and  stood  in  the  direction  we  had  last  seen  the  ships, 
but  could  discover  nothing  of  them." 

From  then  until  to-day  we  have  not  seen  a  vessel  of  any 
description. 

Respectfully  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  obedient 
servant,  SAML.  EVANS. 

The  Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

United  States'  Frigate  Chesapeake,  Jan.  14,  1813. 

Sir,  we  this  morning  fell  in  with  another  of  the  Brazil  <-on- 
voy,  the  brig  Liverpool  Hero  of  Liverpool.  As  she  did  not 
appear  to  be  of  sufficient  consequence  to  man,  I  have  taken 
from  her  the  most  valuable  articles  she  had  on  board,  and  we 
are  now  employed  scuttling  her. 

There  is  another  of  them  in  sight,  and  I  am  in  hopes  we 
shall  have  her  in  the  morning. 

Respectfully,  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  obedient 
servant,  SAML.  EVANS. 

Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


CAPTURE    AND    SHIPWRECK    OF    THE    VIXEX. 

Letter  from  Lieutenant  Glen  Drayton,  late  of  the  United  States* 
Brig  Vixen,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Spanish  Toivn,  Jamaica,  February  8th,  1813. 

Sir,  I  am  extremely  sorry,  that  by  the  death  of  captain  G. 
W.  Reed  (late  of  the  United  States  brig  Vixen),  it  .devolves 
on  me,  as  senior  officer  of  said  vessel,  to  inform  you  of  her 
capture  and  subsequent  loss  by  shipwreck,  the  particulars  of 
which  are  as  follow. 

Bi  ing  on  our  return  from  a  cruize  of  thirty  days,  without 
meeting  any  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  having  ranged  along  the 
West  India  islands  from  as  far  eastward  as  Turk's  island,  on 
the  22d  of  Novr  mber,  being  in  the  latitude  of  3O°  30'  N. 
and  longitude  79°  W.,  at  7,  A.  M.,  discovered  a  sail  to  the 
northward,  the  wind  being  light  from  the  eastward,  which 
we  soon  discovered  to  be  a  large  ship,  apparently  a  frigate, 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [163 

standing  for  us.    We  immediately  made  sail,  and  hauled  our 
wind  to  the  southward.     Finding  her  gaining  on  us  fast,  cap- 
tain Reed  ordered  the  water  to  be  started ;  and  the  wind  be- 
coming light,  we  got  out  our  sweeps,  by  the  means  of  which 
we  at  first  hoped  to  escape.     About  1,P.  M.,  the  wind  fresh- 
ened and  became  more  steady,  where  she  again  overhauled 
us.    Our  private  signal  being  made,  which  was  not  answered, 
captain  Reed  directed  the  anchors  to  he  cut  from  the  bows, 
the  bow-guns,  kedge  anchors,  shot,  and  all  lumber  to  be  hove 
overboard,    in  order  to  lighten   the  vessel,    slacked  up  the 
stays,  and  started  the   wedges   of  the  masts,   all  of  which 
proved  ineffectual.      We  then  bore  up,  in  hopes  of  eluding 
her  until  night ;  but  from  her  superior  sailing  she  soon  got 
within  gun  shot,  when  she  commenced  firing,  her  shot  then 
passing  over  us,  and  there  appearing  no  possible  chance  of 
escape,  captain  Reed  called  us  together,   when,  conceiving 
that  any  resistance' against  so  superior  a  force  would  be  a 
wanton  and  useless  sacrifice  of  a  brave  crew,  we  were  com- 
pelled, after  firing  two  guns,  to  surrender.     She  proved  to  be 
his  majesty's  frigate  Southampton,  of  38  guns,  sir  James  Lu- 
cas Yeo  commander.    Captain  Reed  went  on  board  the  frigate 
and  tendered  his  sword,  which   was  immediately  returned 
him.     The  officers  and  men  being  taken  on  board  the  ship, 
both  vessels  filled  away,  steering  to  the  southward  and  east- 
ward.    From  the  22d  to  the  25th,  the  wind  blowing  fresh, 
and  sea  running  high,  we  could  have  no  communication  with 
the  brig,  consequently  could  not  get  our  trunks,  &c.  from  on 
board.     On  the  night  of  the  26th,  about  half  past  12,  being 
at  meridian  in.  latitude  24°  54'  N.  longicude  74°  30'  W.  the 
ship  struck  on  a  reef  of  rocks;  immediately  afterwards,  the 
brig  struck  on  our  starboard  bow,  about  a  quarter  of  a.  mile 
from  us.     At  3,  A.  M.,  the  officer  and  crew  of  the  brig  de- 
serted her,  she  having  bilged.     At  day-light  on  the  27th  we 
saw  the  land  astern,  which  proved  to  be  Little  Windward,  or 
Conception  island,  where  we  were  fortunate   enough  to  land 
the  crews  of  both  vessels  in  safety.     Our  officers  and  crew, 
however,  were  unable  to  save  any  thing  from  the  wreck  of 
the  brig,  she  having  settled  so  quickly.     Boats  were    then 
despatched  to  New-Providence  and  the  neighbouring  islands 
to  procure  relief.     On  the  6th  December,  his  majesty's  brig 
Rhodian,  with  two  transports,  arrived  to  our  assistance,  on 
board  of  which  the  two  'Tews  were  embarked,  and  sailed  on 
the  9th  for  this  island,  where  we  arrived  on  the   14th,  and 
were  put  on  parole,  the  men  being  put  on  board  the  prison- 
ship  at  Port 


164]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

I  am  extremely  sorry,  sir,  that  the  much  to  be  lamented 
death  of  captain  Reed,  who  died  of  a  fever  in  this  place,  on 
the  5th  of  January,  prevents  his  recommending  his  crew, 
(which  I  know  to  have  been  his  intention).  Their  orderly 
and  decorous  behaviour  during  the  time  of  the  ship's  striking, 
and  afterwards  on  the  island,  was  such  as  to  induce  sir 
James  to  assemble  them  before  his  own  crew,  and  thank 
them  publicly  for  their  services;  and  I  trust,  sir, that  though 
they  have  been  unfortunate,  they  have  not  been  inactive,  and 
should  it  please  their  country  to  call  them  out  again,  they  will 
support  the  dignity  of  her  naval  character,  which  has  so  re- 
cently and  generally  been  established. 

I  feel  it  a  duty  incumbent  on  me,  sir,  to  inform  you,  that 
there  are  upwards  of  four  hundred  American  prisoners  now 
at  this  place,  who  I  believe  would  willingly  enter  the  service 
should  a  cartel  arrive. 

To  Mr.  Satterwhite,  purser  of  the  late  brig,  I  have  entrusted 
this,  who  also  has  the  several  indents,  and  vouchers  respecting 
the  monies  drawn.  He  has  obtained  permission  to  return 
home  from  the  admiral,  being  considered  a  non-combatant. 
The  surgeon  and  clerk  have  also  applied,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  will  obtain  permission. 

Trusting,  sir,  that  upon  our  arrival  in  America,  and  the 
usual  enquiries  being  made  into  our  conduct,  it  may  meet 
your  approbation, 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

GLEN  DRAY  TON, 
Lieutenant  of  the  United  States1  Navy. 
Hon.  Paul  Hamilton^  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

According  to  general  usage  in  such  cases,  a  court  of  en- 
quiry has  been  held  relative  to  the  surrender  of  the  United 
States'  brig  Vixen,  while  under  the  command  of  master  com- 
mandant George  W.  Reed,  to  his  Britannic  majesty's  frigate 
Southampton.  The  following  is  the  opinion  of  the  court, 
approved  by  the  secretary'of  the  navy. 

Opinion. 

The  court  having  heard  the  statement  of  lieutenant  Dray- 
ton,  and  the  other  evidence,  and  maturely  considered  the 
same,  are  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  there  was  no  impro- 
priety of  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  officers  and  crew  on  the 
occasion  of  the  surrender  of  the  United  States'  brig  of  war 
the  Vixen,  of  14  guns,  while  under  the  command  of  master 
commandant  George  W.  Reed,  Esq.  to  his  Britannic  majes- 
tv's  frigate  Southampton,  rated  at  32  guns;  and  that  even- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [165 

exertion  was  made,  and  the  most  proper  means  adopted,  by 
the  commander,  officers,  and  crew,  of  said  brig  Vixen,  to  es- 
cape from  the  said  frigate  Southampton,  after  the  force  and 
size  of  said  frigate  were  discovered. 

A  like  enquiry  has  been  ru  Id,  and  the  same  proceedings 
had,  on  the  conduct  of  lieutenant  John  D.  Henley,  for  the 
surrender  of  the-  United  States'  brig  Viper,  to  his  Britannic 
majesty's  frigate  Narcissus.  The  following  is  the  opinion  of 
the  court,  approved  as  above,  respecting  the  same. 

Opinion. 

The  court  having  heard  the  statement  and  evidence  in  this 
case,  and  maturely  considered  the  circumstances  attending 
the  surrender  of  the  United  States'  brig  of  war  the  Viper, 
of  12  guns,  while  under  the  command  of  lieutenant  J.  D. 
Henley,  Esq.  to  his  Britannic  majesty's  frigate  the  Narcis- 
sus, rated  at  32  guns,  under  the  command  of  captain  Lum- 
by,  are  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  there  was  no  impropri- 
ety of  conduct  on  the  part  of  said  lieutenant  John  D.  Hen- 
ley, or  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  said  brig  the  Viper,  on 
occasion  of  said  surrender ;  but  that  every  exertion  was 
made  by  the  said  lieutenant  John  D.  Henley,  and  the  offi- 
cers and  crew  of  the  said  brig  Viper,  to  preserve  her  from 
capture,  after  they  discovered  the  enemy  to  be  a  frigate ;  but 
from  the  superior  force  and  sailing  of  said  frigate,  all  exer- 
tions to  save  the  said  brig  the  Viper  were  unavailing. 


CAPTURE    AND    DESTRUCTION    OF    THE    PEACOCK. 

Letter  from  Captain  Lawrence  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navij. 
United  States'  Ship  Hornet,  Holmes'  Hole, 

March  19,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  of  the  arrival  at  this 
port  6f  the  United  States'  ship  Hornet,  under  my  command, 
from  a  cruise  of  145  days  ;  and  to  state  to  you,  that  after 
commodore  Bainbridge  left  the  coast  of  Brazils,  January* 
6th,  I  continued  off  the  harbour  of  St.  Salvadore,  blockad- 
ing the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  until  the  24th,  when  the  Montague, 
74,  hove  in  sight,  and  chased  me  into  the  harbour;  but  night 
coming  on,  I  wore  and  stood  out*  to  the  southward.  Knowing 
that  she  had  left  Rio  Janeiro  for  the  express  purpose  of  re- 
lieving the  Bonne  Citoyenne  and  the  packet  (which  I  had 
also  blockaded  for  14  days,  and  obliged  her  to  send  her  mail 
to  Rio,  in  a  Portuguese  smack),  I  judged  it  most  prudent  to 

VOL.  I.  PART  IT.  [Z] 


166]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

shift  my  cruising  ground,  and  hauled  by  the  wind  to  the  east- 
M'ard.,  with  the  view  of  cruising  off  Pernamburo,  and  on  the 
4th  February,  captured  the  English  brig  Resolution,  of  10 
guns,  from  Rio  Janeiro,  bound  to  Moranham,  with  coffee, 
jerked  beef,  flour,  fustic,  and  butter,  and  about  §23,000  in 
specie.  As  she  sailed  dull,  and  I  could  not  spare  hands  to 
man  her,  I  took  out  the  money,  and  set  her  on  fire.  I  then 
ran  down  the  coast  for  Moranham,  and  cruised  there  a  short 
time  ;  from  thence  ran  off  Surinam.  After  cruising  off  that 
coast  from  the  15  h  to  the  22d  of  February,  without  meeting 
a  vessel,  I  stood  for  Demarara,  with  an  intention,  should  I 
not  be  fortunate  on  that  station,  to  run  through  the  West  In- 
dies, on  my  way  to  the  United  States.  But  on  the  24th,  in 
the  morning,  I  discovered  a  brig  to  leeward,  to  which  I  gave 
chase — ran  into  quarter  less  four,  and  not  having  a  pilot  was 
obliged  to  haul  off — the  fort  at  the  entrance  of  Demarara  ri- 
ver at  this  time  bearing  S.  W.  distant  two  and  a  half  leagues. 
Previous  to  giving  up  the  chase,  I  discovered  a  vessel  at  an- 
chor without  the  bar,  with  English  colours  flving,  apparently 
a  brig  of  war.  In  beating  around  Carobana  bank,  in  order 
to  get  at  her,  at  half  past  3,  P.  M.,  I  discovered  another  sail 
on  my  weather  quarter,  edging  down  for  us.  At  20  minutes 
past  4,  she  hoisted  English  colours,  at  which  lime  we  disco- 
vered her  to  be  a  large  man  of  war  brig — beat  to  quarters, 
and  cleared  ship  for  action,  and  kept  close  to  the  wind,  in 
order,  if  possible,  to  get  the  weather  gauge.  At  1O  minutes 
past  5,  finding  I  could  weather  the  enemy,  I  hoisted  Amen- 

„  can  colours,  and  tacked.  At  25  minutes  past  5,  in  passing  each 
other  exchanged  broadsides  within  halt  pistol  shot.  Observ- 
ing the  enemy  in  the  act  of  wearing,  I  bore  up,  received  his 
starboard  broadside,  ran  him  close  on  board  on  the  starboard 
quarter,  and  kept  up  such  a  heavy  and  well  directed  fire,  that 
in  less  than  15  minutes  he  surrendered  (being  literally  cut 
to  pieces),  and  hoisted  an  ensign,  union  down,  from  his  fore 
rigging,  as  a  signal  of  distress.  Shortly  after  her  main-mast 
went  by  the  board.  Despatched  lieutenant  Shubrick  on 

•  board,  who  soon  returned  with  her  first  lieutenant,  who  re- 
ported her  to  be  his  Britannic  majesty's  late  brig  Peacock, 
commanded  bv  captain  William  Peake,  who  fell  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  action — that  a  number  of  her  crew  were  killed 
and  wounded,  and  that  she*was  sinking  fast,  having  then  six 
feet  water  in  her  hold.  Despatched  the  boats  immediately 
for  the  wounded,  and  brought  both  vessels  to  anchor.  Such 
shot  holes  as  could  not  be  got  at,  were  then  plugged  ;  her 
guns  thrown  overboard,  and  every  possible  exertion  used  to 


DOCUMENTS. 

keep  her  afloat,  until  the  prisoners  could  be  removed,  by 
pumping  and  bailing,  but  without  effect,  as  she  unfortunately 
sunk  in  five  and  a  half  fathoms  water,  carrying  down  13  of 
her  crew,  and  three  of  my  hifave  fellows,  viz.  John  Hart,  Jo- 
seph Williams,  and  Hannibal  B^cl. — Lieutenant  Conn%, 
midshipman  Cooper,  and  the  rslnainder  of'  my  men,  etn- 
ploved  in  removing  the  prisoners,  with  difficulty  saved  them- 
selves, by  jumping  into  a  boat  that  was  lying  gn  her  booms 
as  she  went  down. 

Four  men,  of  the  13  mentioned,  were. so  fog;unate  as  to 
gain  the  fore-top,  and  were  afterwards  taken  off  by  the  boats. 
Previous  to  her  going^lown,  four  of  her  men  took  to  her 
stern  boat,  that  had  been  much  damaged  during  the  action, 
who,  I  sincerelv  hope,  reached  the 'shore  in  safety ;  but  from 
the  heavy  sea  running  at  the  time,  the  shattered  state  of  the 
boat,  and  the  difficulty  of  landing  on  the  coast,  I  am  fearful 
they  were  lost.  I  have  not  been  ajale-  to  ascertain  from  her 
officers  the  exact  number  killetl.  '  .Captain  Peake  and  four 
men  were  found  dead  on  boarcl.  The  master,  one  midship- 
man, carpenter,  and  captain's  clerk,  and  29  seamen  were 
wounded;  most  of  them  very  severely,  three  of  whom  died 
of  their  wounds  after  being  removed,  and.  nine  drowned. 
Oar  loss  was  trifling  in  compariso^l  John  Place, Allied,  Sa- 
muel Coulsan,  and  John  Dalntnple^  slightly  wounded; 
George  Coffin  and^Lewis  Todd,  severely  burnt  by  the  ex- 
plosion of  a  cartridge.  Todd  survived  only  a  few  days.  Our 
rigging^nd  sails  were  much  cut!  One  shot  through  the  fore- 
mast; and  the  bowsprit  slightly  injured.  Our  hull  received 
little  or  no  dam  ige.  At  the.  tim£  I  brought  the  Peacock  to 
action,  the  ^%spiegle  (the  brig  mentioned  as  being  at  an- 
chor) mounting  16  two-aiid-jhirt -.-pound  carronacles  and  two 
long  nines,,  lay  about  six  miles  in  shore  of  me,  and  coulcL 
plainly  see  the  whole  of  the  fction.  Apprehensive  that -she 
would  beat  out  to  the  assistance  of  her  consort,  such  exertions 
were  made  by  my  officers  and  crew  in  repairing  damages,  &c, 
that  by  9  o'clock  my  boats  wei^  stowed  aw^y,  a  new  set  of 
sails  bent,  and  the  ship  cwnplSely  ready  for  action.  At  2,^ 
A.  M.,  got 'under*  way,  and  stood  by  th0  wind  to.  the  north- 
ward and  westward,  under  easy  sail.  ^ 

On  mustering  next  morning,  found  we»had  two  hundred 
and  seventy-seven  souls  on  board  (including  th^crew  of  the 
American  brig  Hunter,  of  Portland,  taken  a  few4rays  before 
by  the  Peacock).  As  we  had  been  on  two-thirds  allowance 
of  provisions  for  some  time,  and  had  but  3400  gallop  of 
water  on  board,  I  reduced  the  allowance  to  three  pints  a  man, 


168]  '      HISTORICAL  R£GtstER. 

and  determined  to  make  .the  best  of  my  way  to  the  Unit 
Scales.'    ,  . 

•'.  The. Peacock  \vas  deservedly  styled  one  of  the  finest  ves- 
sels of  her  class  in  the  Brjpsh  navy.  I  should  judge  her  to 
b^'about  the  tonnage  of  tb^Hornet.  Her  beam  was  greater 
by  five  inches ;  but  he'j-  eJWeme  length  not  so  great  by  four 
feet.  She. mounted  Sixteen  24-pound'' carronades,  two  long 
nines,'  one  Uyelve  pound-carronade  on  her  top-gallant  fore- 

'castle  as  a  shifting  gun,  anc[  one*  four  or  six-pounder,  and  two 
swivels  moisted  aft.     I' find  by  her- quarter  bills,  that  her    * 
crew  consisted  of  13.4  men,  four  of  whom  were  absent  in  a 
prize.  9 

The  cool,  and  determined  conduct  of  my  officers  and  crew 
during  the  action, .and  their  almost  unexampled  exertions  af- 
terwards?  entitle  them  to  .my  warmest  acknowledgments,  and 
J  beg  leave-  most  earnestly,  to  recommend  them  to  the  notice 
of  government.  •  « 

By  the  indisposition  of.  lieutenant  Stewart,'  I  .was  deprived 
of  the  services  of  an  exdelkn?  officer.  Had  he  been  able  to 
stand  the  deck,  I«am  confident  his  exertions  would  not  have 
been  surpassed  by  any  one  on  board.  I  should  be 'doing  in- 

'  justice  to  the  merits  of  .lieutenant  Shubrick,  -ana  qcting-lieu- 

•  tenants  G^nfter  and  .Ne^fcon,  were  I  not  to  recommend  them 
particularly  to  your%nptidfe.  Lieutenant  Shubrick  was  in  the 
actions  with,  the  Guerrier,e  and  Java.  Captain  Hull  and  com- 
modore Bainbridge  can  bear  testimony  to  his  coolness  and 
good  conduct  on  both  occasions.  » 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)    .  .  ^  •'    JAMES  LAWRENCE. 

HaH.  Wm.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

_  I*.  S.  At  the  commencement  of  the  action,  myeailing  mas- 
ter-and  seven  men  were  absftit  in  -a-  prize:  and  lieutenant 
Stewart  and  six  men  on  the  sick  list.  As  there  is  every  pros- 
pect of  the  wind  being  to  the.eastward,  in  the  morning  I  shall 
make  the  best  ^  my  way  tWS"ew  York. 


• 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS..  [169* 


RICAN  AND  BRITISH   ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  CAPTURE  OF 

•    THF.   CHESAPKAKE. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Lieutenant  Buddto  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  dated 

•         'Halifax,  June  15,  1813. 

jSir,  the  unfortunate  death^of  captain  James  Lawrence  and 
lieutenant  Augustus  C.  Ludlow,  has  rendered  it  my  duty  to 
inform  «vou  of  the  capture  of  the  late  United  States*  frigate 
Chesapeake.  . 

On  Tuesday,  June  1st,  at  eight  A.  M.,  we  unmoored  shjp, 
and  at  meridian  got  under  way  from  President  roads,  with 
a  light  wind  from  the  southward  and  westward,  and  pro- 
ceeded on  a  cruize.  A  ship  was  then  m  sight  in  the  offing 
wjiich  had  the  appearanc^  of  a  ship  of  war,  and  which,  from 
infoAution  received  from  pilot  boats  and  craft,  we  believed 
to.  be  the  British  frigate  Shannon.  We  made  sail  in  chase, 
and  cleared  ship  for  action.  At  half  past  fou*r,  P.  M.,  she 
hove  to,  with  her  head  to  the  s^utnward^nd  eastward.  At 
five,  P.  M.,  took  in  the  royals  and  top-gfelfant  sails,  and  at  half 
past  five  hauled  the  cij^rses  up. 

About^l5  minutes  befdre  six,  P.  M.,the  action  c6mmence,d 
within  pistol  shot.  The  first  broadside  did  great  execution 
.  on  both  sides,  damaged  our  rigging,  killed  among  others  Mr. 
White  the  'sailing  'master,  anc^  wounded  captain  Lawrence. 
In  about  ^welve  mrnut^Jfcer  the  commencement  of  the  ac- 
tion, we  fell  oi^joard  of  the  enemy;  "and  immediately  after, 
one  of  our  arm  chests  on  the  quarter-deck  was  blovtyi  up  by 
.a  hand  grenade  thrown  from  the  enemy's  ship.  In  a  few 
minutes  one  of  the  captain's  aids  came  on  the  gun  deck  to 
inform  me  that  the  bdarders  were  called.  I  immediately  call- 
ed the  boarders  a*vay,  and  proceeded  to  the  spar  deck,  where 
I  Jkmnd  that  the  enemy  had  succeeded  in  boarding  us,  and 
had  gained  possession  of  our  quarter  deck. 

I  immediately  gave  orders  to*  haul  on  board  the  fore-tack, 
for  the  purpose  of  shooting  the  ship  clear  .of  the  other,  end 
then  made  an  attempt  to  regain  the  quarter-deck,  but  was, 
was  wounded  and  thjown  down  on  the  gun  deck.  I  again 
made  an  effort*  to  collect  the  bearders,  but  in  the  mean  time. 
the  enemy  had  gained  complete  possession  of  the  ship.  On 
mv  being  carried  down  to  the  cockpit,  I  there  found  eapdfcn 
Lawrence  and  lieutenant  Ludlow  both  mortally  wounded; 
the  former  had  been  carried*  below  previously  to  the  ship's 
being  boarded  ;  the  latter  was  wounded  in  attempting  to  repel 


170J  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

the  boarders.  Among  those  who  fell  in  the  early  part  of  the 
action  was  Mr.  Edward  J.  Ballard  the  fourth  lieiitenanu»and 
lieutenant  James  Broom  of  marines. 

I  herein  enclose  to  -you  a  return  of  the  killed  andwonhded, 
by  which  you  will  perceive,  thatever^  ofhVer  upon  whom  the 
charge  of  the  ship  would  devolve  was'  either  killed  or  wounded 
previously  to  her  rapture.  The  e*emy  report  the  loss  of  Mr. 
Watt,  their  first  lieutenant;  th^  purser  ;  the  captains  clerk, 
and  23  seamen  killed;  and  captain  Broke,  a  midshipman, 
and  56  seamen  wounded. 

The  Shannon  had,  in  addition  to  her  full  complement,  an 
oflfcer  and  16  men  belonging  to  the  Belle  Poule,  and  a  part 
ofthe  crew  belonging  to  the  Tenedos. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  very  great  respect,  &c. 

GEORGE  BUDD. 
The  Hon.  William  "Jones,  Secretary  pf  the  Navy,  Washington^ 

[Here  follow  the  lists  of  the  killed  and  wounded  ;  killed  48, 
wounded  '98,  of  whom  1,3  are  since  dead.] 


iraltif  Office,  July  10. 
Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Honour  ablqjfaapta'm  Cape/,  of  His 

Majesty's  Ship    La    Hogne,    to  John  Wihon  Crofter,  Esq. 

dated* 

Halifax,  June  11,181  3. 

Sir,  it  is  with  the  greatest  j^easure  I  transmit  you  a  letter 
I  have  just  received  from  captain  ^HKce,  of  his  majesty  ship 
Shannon,  detailing  a  most  brilliant  achievement  in  the  cap- 
ture of  jh-.-  United  States'  frigate  Chesapeake,  in  15  minutes. 
Captain  Broke  relates  so  fully  the  particulars  of  this  gallant, 
affair,  that  I  ft  el  it  unnecessary  to  add  much  to  his  narrative: 
but  I  caimot  forbear  expressing  the  pleasure  I  feel  in  bearing  ^ 
testimony  to  the  indefatigable  exertions  an^J  persevering  feeal 
of  captain  Broke  during  the  time  he  has  been  under  m\  cy- 
ders ;  placing  a  firm  reliance  on  the  valour  of  his  officers  and 
crew,"  and  a  just  confidence  -in  his  system  of  discipline,  he 
sought  every  opportunity  of  meeting  the  enemy  on  fair  terms  ; 


and  I  have  to  rejorce  with  his  country  and  his  friends,  at  the 

"         illMatly  headed  his  boar-  t 
.ders  in  the  assault,  and  carried  all  before  him'.     His  wounds 


glorious  result  of  this  contest ;  he  gallMjtly  headed  his  boar- 


are  severe,  but  I  trust  his  country  will  not  be  Jk>ng  deprived 
is  service's.     I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

THOMAS  BLADEN  CAPEL.  ' 
Captain  and  Senior  Officer ,  tialifax. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [in 

Shannon,  Halifax,  June  6,  1813. 

Sir,  I  hfave  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  being  close  in 
with  Boston  Light  House,  in  his  majt-stx's  ship  under  my 
command,  on  the  1st  instant,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
that  the  United  States'  frigate  Chesapeake,  which  we  had 
long  been  watching,  was  coming  out  of  the  harbour  to  en- 
gage the  Shannon.  I  took  a  position  between  capes  Ann  and 
Cod,  and  then  hove  to  for  him  to  join  us.  The  enemy  came 
down  in  a  very  handsome  manner,  having  three  ensigns  fly- 
ing. When  closing  with  us  he  sent  down  his  royal  yards.  I 
kept  the  Shannon's  up,  expecting  the  breeze  would  die  away. 
At  half  past  5,  P.  M.,  the  enemy  hauled  up  within  hail  of  us 
on  the  starboard  side,  and  the  battle  began,  both  ships  steer- 
ing full  under  the  top-sails ;  after  exchanging  between  two 
and  three  broadsides,  thr  enemy's  ship  fell  on  board  of  us, 
her  mizen  channels  locking  in  with  our  fore  rigging.  I  went 
forward  to  ascertain  her  position,  and  observing  that  the  ene- 
my were  flinching  from  their  guns,  I  gave  orders  to  prepare 
for  boarding.  Our  gallant  band  appointed  to  that  service, 
immediately  rushed  in  under  their  respective  officers  upon 
the  enemy's  decks,  driving  every  thing  before  them  with  irre- 
sistible fury.  The'  enemy  made  a  desperate  but  disorderly 
resistance.  The  firing  continued  at  all  th<  gangways  and  be- 
tween the  tops,  but  in  2  minutes'  time  the  enemy  were  driven 
sword  in  hand  from  every  post.  The  American  flag  was 
hauled  down,  and  the  proud  old  British  Union  floated  trium- 
phant over  it.  In  another  minute  they  ceased  firing  from  be- 
low, and  called  for  quarter.  The  whole  of  this  service  was 
achieved  in  15  minutes  from  the  commencement  of  the  ac- 
tion. 

I  have  to  lament  the  loss  of  many  of  my  gallant  ship-mates, 
but  they  fell  exulting  in  their  conquest. 

My  brave  first  lieutenant  Mr.  Watt,  was  slain  in  the  mo- 
ment of  victory,  in  the  act  of  hoisting  the  British  colours. 
His  death  is  a  severe  loss  to  the  service.  Mr.  Aldham,  the 
purser,  who  had  spiritedly  volunteered  the  charge  of  a  party 
of  small  arm  men,  was  killed  at  his  post  on  the  gangway. 
My  faithful  old  clerk,  Mr.  Dunn,  was  shot  by  his  side.  Mr. 
Aldham  has  left  a  widow  to  lament  his  loss.  I  request  the 
commander  in  chief  will  recommend  her  to  the  protection  of 
my  lords  commissioners  of  the  admiralty.  My  veteran 
boatswain,  Mr.  Stephens,  has  lost  an  arm.  He  fought  under 
Lord  Rodney  on  the  12th  of  April.  I  trust  his  age  and  ser- 
vices will  be  duly  rewarded. 

I  am  happy  to  say  that  Mr.  Samwell,   a  midshipman  of 


172]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

much  merit,  is  the  only  other  officer  wounded  beside  tnvself, 
and  he  not  dangerously.  Of  mv  gallant  seamen  atid  marines 
we  had  twenty-three  slain  and  fifty-six  wounded.  No  ex- 
pressions I  can  make  use  of  can  do  justice  to  the  merits  of 
my  valiant  officers  and  crew ;  the  calm  courage  they  display- 
ed during  the  cannonade,  and  the  tremendous  precision  of 
their  fire,  could  only  be  equalled 'by  the  ardour  with  which 
they  rushed  to  the  assault.  I  recommend  them  all  warmly 
to  the  protection  of  the  commander  in  chief.  Having  re- 
ceived a  severe  sabre  wound  at  the  first  onset,  whilst  charging 
a  part  of  the  enemy  who  had  rallied  on  their  forecastle,  I  was 
only  capable  of  giving  command  till  assured  our  conquest  was 
complete,  and  then  directing  second  lieutenant  Wallis  to  take 
charge  of  the  Shannon,  and  secure  the  prisoners.  I  left  the 
third  lieutenant  Mr.  Falkiner  (who  headed  the  main  deck 
boarders),  in  charge  of  the  prize.  I  beg  to  recommend  these 
officers  most  strongly  to  the  commander  in  chief's  patronage, 
for  the  gallantry  they  displayed  during  the  action,  and  the 
skill  and  judgment  they  evinced  in  the  anxious  duties  which 
afterwards  devolved  upon  them. 

To  Mr.  Etouch  the  acting  master,  I  am  much  indebted, 
for  the  steadiness  with  which  he  carried  ^he  ship  into  action. 
The  lieutenants  Johns  and  Law,  of  the  marines,  bravely 
boarded  at  the  head  of  their  respective  divisions.  It  is  im- 
possible to  particularize  every  brilliant  deed  performed  by 
my  officers  and  men  ;  but  I  must  mention,  when  the  ships' 
yard-arms  were  locked  together,  that  Mr.  Cosnahan,  who 
commanded  in  our  main-top,  finding  himself  screened  from 
the  enemy  by  the  foot  of  the  top-sail,  laid  out  at  the  main 
yard-arm  to  fire  upon  them,  and  shot  three  men  in  that  situa- 
tion. Mr.  Smith,  who  commanded  in  our  fore-top,  stormed 
the  enemy's  fore-top  from  the  fore-yard  arm,  and  destroyed 
all  the  Americans  remaining  in  it.  I  particularly  btg  leave 
to  recommend  Mr.  Etouch,  the  acting  master,  and  Messrs. 
Smith,  Leake, '  Clavering,  Raymond,  and  Littlejohn,  mid- 
shipmen. This  latter  officer  is  the  son  of  captain  Littlejohn, 
who  was  slain  in  the  Berwick.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was 
about  70  killed  and  10O  wounded.  Among  the  former  were 
the  four  lieutenants,  a  lieutenant  of  marines,  the  master,  and 
many  other  officers — captain  Lawrence  is  since  dead  of  his 
wounds. 

The  enemy  came  into  action  with  a  complement  of  four 
hundred  and  forty  men,  the  Shannon  having  picked  up  some 
re-captured  seamen,  had  three  hundred  and  thirty.  The 
Chesapeake  is  a  fine  frigate,  and  mounts  forty-nine  guns. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  .      [173 

eighteens  on  her  main-deck,  two-and-thirties  on  her  quarter- 
deck and  fore-castle.      Both  ships  came  out  of  action  in  the 
most  beautiful   order,  their  rigging  appearing  as  perfect  as 
if  they  had  only  been  exchanging  a  salute. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

(Signed)  P.  B.   V.  BROKE. 

To  Captain  the  Honourable  T.  Bidden  Capel,  &c.  Halifax. 


CAPTURE    OP    THE    FLY. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Blakely,  forwarded  by  Captain 
Hull  to  the  Navy  Department.  • 

United  States*  Brig  Enter  prize, 
Portsmouth  N.  H.  20th  Aug.  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  report  to  you  the  capture  of  the 
British  privateer  schooner  the  Fly.    She  was  captured  yester- 
day afternoon  off  cape  Porpoise,  after  a  chase  of  eight  hours. 
Very  respectfully,  Sec. 

(Signed)  J.  BLAKELY. 

Isaac  Hull,Exq.  commanding  United  States'  Naval 
Forces  on  the  Eastern  Station,  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire. 


CAPTURE    OF    THE    DOMINICO. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  John  H.   Dent,  commanding 
Naval  Officer  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  dated 

August  21,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  the  privateer 
schooner  Decatur,  of  this  port,  arrived  here  yesterday,  with 
his  Britannic  majesty's  schooner  Dominico  her  prize.  She 
was  captured  on  the  5th  instant  after  a  most  gallant  and  des- 
perate action  of  one  hour,  and  carried  by  boarding,  having 
all  her  officers  killed  or  wounded,  except  one  midshipman. — 
The  Dominico  mounts  15  guns,  one  a  32-pounder  on  a  pivot, 
and  had  a  complement  of  83  men  at  the  commencement  of 
the  action,  sixty  of  whom  were  killed  or  wounded.  She  was 
one  of  the  best  equipped  and  manned  vessels  of  her  class  I 
have  ever  seen.  The  Decatur  mounts  seven  guns,  and  had 
a  complement  of  103  men  at  the  commencement  of  the  ac- 
tion, nineteen  of  whom  were  killed  and  wounded. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  your  most 
obedient  servant,  JOHN  H.  DENT. 

Hon.  Win.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

rOL.  I,  T>AIiT  TT.          '  [A  3  1 


174]       •  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

CAPTURE    OF    THE    ARGUS. 

Admiralty  Office,  August  24. 
Extract  of  a  Letter  from    Captain  Maples,  of  his  Majesty's 

Sloop  Pelican  to  Vice- Admiral  Thornborough,  and  transmitted 

by  the  latter  Officer  to  John  Wm.  Croker,  Esq. 

His  Majesty's  Shop  Pelican,  St.  David's  Head, 

East  Jive  Leagues,  Aug.  14.  , 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  in  obedience  to  your 
orders  to  me  of  the  12th  instant,  to  cruise  in  St.  George's 
Channel,  for  the  protection  of  the  trade,  and  to  obtain  infor- 
mation of  the  American  sloop  of  war,  I  had  the  good  fortune 
to  board  a  brig,  the  master  of  which  informed  me  he  had  seen 
a  vessel,  apparently  a  man  of  war,  steering  to  the  N.  E. ;  at 
four  this  morning  I  saw  a  vessel  on  fire,  and  a  brig  standing 
from  her  which  I  soon  made  out  to  be  a  cruiser ;  made  all 
sail  in  chase,  and  at  half  past  five  came  alongside  of  her  (she 
having  shortened  sail,  and  made  herself  clear  for  an  obstinate 
resistance)  when,  after  giving  her  three  cheers,  our  action 
commenced,  which  was  kept  up  with  spirit  on  both  sides  43 
minutes,  when  we  lay  her  alongside,  ami  were  in  the  act  of 
boarding  when  she  struck  her  colours.  She  proves  to  be  the 
United  States'  sloop  of  war  Argus,  of  360  tons,  18  twenty- 
four-pound  carronades,  and  two  long  12-pounders;  had  on 
board  when  she  sailed  from  America,  (iwo  months  since)  a 
complement  of  14-9  tTKjn,  but  in  the  action  127,  commanded 
by  lieutenant  commandant  W.  H.  Allen,  who,  I  regret  to  say, 
was  wounded  early  in  the  action,  and  has  since  suffered  am- 
putation in  his  left  thigh. 

No  eulogium  I  could  use  would  do  sufficient  justice  to  the 
merits  of  my  gallant  officers  and  crew  (which  consisted  of 
116),  the  cool  courage  they  displayed,  and  the  precision  of 
their  fire,  could  only  be  equalled  by  their  zeal  to  distinguish 
themselves  ;  but  I  must  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
conduct  of  my  first  lieutenant  Thomas  Welsh  ;  of  Mr.  Gran- 
ville,  acting  master ;  Mr.  William  Ingram,  the  purser,  who 
volunteered  his  services  on  deck ;  and  Mr.  Richard  Scott, 
the  boatswain. 

Our  loss,  I  am  happy  to  say,  is  small;  one  master's  mate, 
.  William  Young,  slain  in  the  moment  of  victory,  while 
animating,  by  his  courage  and  example,  all  around  him  ;  one 
seamen,  John  KSterv  ;  besides  five  seamen  wounded  who 
are  doing  well ;   that  of  the  enemy  I  have   not  yet  been  able 
to  ascertain,  but  it  is  considerable  :  her  officers  say,  about 
forty  killed  and  wounded.     I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 
(Signed)  J.  F.  MAPLES,  Common 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [175 

CAPTURE    OF    THE    BOXER. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Captain    Hull  to  the  Secretary  of  the 

Navy. 

Portland,  Sept.  7,  1813. 

Sir,  I  had  the  honour  last  evening  to  forward  you  by  ex- 
press, through  the  hands  of  commodore  Bainbridge,  a  letter 
I  received  from  Samuel  Storer,  Esq.  navy  agent  at  this  place, 
detailing  an  account  of  the  capture  of  the  British  brig  Box- 
er by  the  United  Slates'  brig  Enterpiize. 

I  have  now  to  inform  you  that  I  left  Portsmouth  this 
morning,  and  have  this  moment  arrived,  and,  as  the  mail  is 
closing,  I  have  only  time  to  enclose  you  the  report  of  lieute- 
nant M'Call  of  the  Enterprize,  and  to  assure  you  that  a  state- 
ment of  the  situation  of  the  two  vessels  as  to  the  damage 
they  have  received,  &c.  shall  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  sur- 
veys can  be  made.  The  Boxer  has  received  much  damage 
in  her  hull,  masts,  and  sails,  indeed  it  was  with  difficulty  she 
could  be  kept  afloat  to  get  her  in.  The  Enterprize  is  only 
injured  in  her  masts  and  sails. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.  ISAAC  HULL. 

The  Hon.  Win.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

United  States'  Brig-  Enterprize, 

Portland,  7th  Sept.  1813. 

Sir,  in  consequence  of  the  unfortunate  death  of  lieutenant 
commandant  William  Burrows,  late  commander  of  this  ves- 
sel, it  devolves  on  me  to  acquaint  you  with  the  result  of  our 
cruize.  After  sailing  from  Portsmouth  on  the  1st  instant,  we 
steered  to  the  eastward;  and  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  off 
Wood  island,  discovered  a  schooner,  which  we  chased  into 
this  harbour,  where  we  anchored.  On  the  morning  of  the 
4th,  weighed  anchor  and  swept  out,  and  continued  our  course 
to  the  eastward.  Having  received  information  of  several 
privateers  being  off  Manhagan,  we  stood  for  that  place  ;  and 
on  the  following  morning,  in  the  bay  near  Penguin  Point, 
discovered  a  brig  getting  under  way,  which  appeared  to  be  a 
vessel  of  war,  and  to  which  we  immediately  gave  chase.  She 
fired  several  guns  and  stood  for  us,  having  four  ensigns 
hoisted.  After  reconnoitring  and  discovering  her  force,  and 
the  nation  to  which  she  belonged,  we  hauled  upon  a  wind  to 
stand  out  of  the  bay,  and  at  thr^e  o'clock  shortened  sail, 
tacked  and  run  down  with  an  intention  to  bring  her  to  close 
action.  At  twenty  minutes  after  three,  P.  M.,  when  within 
half  pistol  shot,  the  firing  commenced  from  both,  and  after 


176]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

being  warmly  kept  .up,  and  with  some  manoeuvring,  the  ene- 
mv  hailed  and  said  they  had  surrendered  about  four,  P.  M. ; 
their  colours  being  nailed  to  the  masts,  could  not  be  hauled 
down.  She  proved  to  be  his  Britannic  majesty's  brig  Boxer, 
of  14  guns,  Samuel  Blythe,  Esq.  commander,  who  fell  in  the 
early  part  of  the  engagement,  having  received  a  cannon  shot 
through  the  body.  And  I  am  sorry  to  add  that  lieutenant 
Burrows,  who  had  gallantly  led  us  to  action,  fell  also  about 
the  same  time  by  a  musket  ball,  which  terminated  his  exist- 
ence in  eight  hours. 

The  Enterprize  suffered  much  in  spars  and  rigging,  and 
the  Boxer  both  in  spars,  rigging,  and  hull,  having  many  shots 
between  wind  and  water. 

It  would  be  doing  injustice  to  the  merit  of  Mr.  Tilling- 
hast,  second  lieutenant,  were  I  not  to  mention  the  able  assist- 
ance I  received  from  him  during  the  remainder  of  the  en- 
gagement, by  his  strict  attention  to  his  own  division  and 
other  departments.  And  the  officers  and  crew  generally,  I 
am  happy  to  add,  their  cool  and  determined  conduct  have 
my  warmest  approbation  and  applause. 

As  no  muster  roll  that  can  be  fully  relied  on  has  come  into 
my  possession,  I  cannot  exactly  state  the  number  killed  on 
board  the  Boxer,  but  from  information  received  from  the  offi- 
cers of  that  vessel,  it  appears  there  were  between  twenty  and 
twenty-five  killed,  and  fourteen  wounded.  Enclosed  is  a  list 
of  the  killed  and  wounded  on  board  the  Enterprize. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

EDWARD  R.  M'CALL, 

Senior  Officer, 

I-saac  Hull,  Esq,  commanding  Naval  Officer 
on  the  Eastern  Station. 

[Killed — one,  wounded   13,  of  whom  two  are  suice  dead.] 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Isaac  Hull,  Eff^  ^commanding  Naval  Offi- 
cer on  the  Station  East  of  Portsmouth,  Neiv  Hampshire. 

United  Stated  Navy  Yard, 
.  Portsmouth,  1 4th  Sept:  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  forward  you,  bv  the  mail,  the 

flags -of  the  late  British  brig  Boxer,  which  were  nailed  to  her 

mast  heads  at  the  time  she  was  captured  by  the  United  States' 

brig  Enterprize. 

Great  as  the  pleasure  is  that  I  derive  from  performing  this 

part  of  my  duty,  I  need  not  tell  you  how  different  my  feelings 

would  have  been,   could  the.  gallant  Burrows   have  had  this 

honour. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [ur 

He  went  into  acttion  most  gallantlv,  and  the  difference  of 
injury  clone  the  two  vessels  proves  how  nobly  he  fought. 

I  havr  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  sir,  your  obe- 

ent  servant, 

ISAAC  HULL. 
Hon.  Wm.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


CRUIZE    OF    COMMODORE    RODGERS. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Rodgers  to  the  Secretary  of 

the  Navy,  dated 
United  States'  Frigate  President,  Nervport, 

Sept.  27th,  1813. 

Sir,  your  having  been  informed  of  my  leaving  Boston  on 
the  23d  of  April  last,  and  of  my  departure  from  President 
roads  in  company  with  the  Congress,  on  the  30th  of  the  same 
month,  it  now  only  rerrv.uns  for  me  to  make  you  acquainted 
with  my  proceedings,  since  the  latter  date. 

In  a  few  hours  after  getting  to  sea,  the  wind,  which  had 
been  light  from  the  westward,  shifted  to  the  S.  E.,  and  ob- 
liged me  to  beat,  consequently  prevented  our  getting  clear  of 
the  bay  until  the  3d  of  May,  when,  in  the  afternoon,  while  in 
chase  of  a  British  brig  of  war,  near  the  shoal  of  George's 
Bank,  we  passed  to  windward  of  three  sail,  two  of  which, 
from  their  appearance  and  the  information  previously  re- 
ceived, I  judged  to  be  the' La  Hogtie  74,  and  the  Nymph  fri- 
gate, and  the  third  a  merchant  brig.  After  getting  clear  of 
George's  Bank,  the  wind  veered  to  the  north-eastward,  and 
we  continued  along  east  southwardly,  in  the  direction  of  the 
southern  edge  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  until  the  8th  of  May,  in 
longitude  60  °W.,  latitude  39°  3O'  N.,  when  I  parted  company 
with  the  Congress.  After  parting  company  I  shaped  a  course, 
as  near  as  the  wind  would  permit,  to  intercept  the  enemy's  West 
India  commerce  passingto  the  southward  of  the  Grand  Bank. 
Not  meeting  with  any  thing  in  this  direction  except  Ameri- 
can vessels  from  Lisbon  and  Cadiz,  I  next  pursued  a  route 
to  the  northward  on  a  parallel  with  the  eastern  edge  of  the 
Grand  Bank,  so  as  to  cross  the  tracks  of  his  West  India,  Ha- 
lifax, Quebec,  and  St.  John's  trade.  In  this  route  experienc- 
ing constant  thick  fogs  for  a  number  of  days,  and  not  meet- 
ing any  thing,  after  reaching  the  latitude  of  38°  N.,  I  steered 
to  the  S.  E.  towards  the  Azores,  off  which,  in  different  di- 
rections, I  continued  until  the  6th  of  June,  without  meeting 


178]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

a  single  enemy's  vessel,  or  any  others,  except  two  Americans. 
At  this  time  filling  in  with  an  American  ship  hound  to  Ca- 
diz, and  receiving  information  that  she  had,  four  days  be- 
fore, passed  an  enemy's  convoy  from  the  West  Indies,  hound 
to  England,  I  crowded  sail  to  the  N.  E.,  and,  although  dis- 
appointed in  falling  in  with  the  convoy,  I  nevertheless  made 
four  captures,  between  the  9th  and  13th  of  June. 

Being  now  in  the  latitude  of  46°  N.,  and  longitude  28°  W., 
I  determined  on  going  into  the  North  Sea,  and  accordingly 
shaped  a  course  that  afforded  a  prospect  of  falling  in  with 
vessels  bound  to  Newfoundland  from  St.  George's  Channel, 
by  the  way  of  Cape  Clear,  as  well  as  others  that  might  pass 
north  about  to  the  northward  of  Ireland; 'to  my  astonish- 
ment, however,  in  all  this  route  I  did  not  meet  with  a  single 
vessel,  until  I  made  the  Shetland  Islands,  and  even  off  there 
nothing  but  Danish  vessels  trading  to  England  under  British 
licenses.  At  the  time  I  reached  the  Shetland  Islands,  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  my  provisions  and  water  being  expended, 
it  became  necessary  to  replenish  these,  previous  to  deter- 
mining what  course  to  pursue  next ;.  and  I  accordingly, 
for  this  purpose,  put  into  North  Bergen  on  the  27th  of  June  ; 
but,  much  to  my  surprise  and  disappointment,  was  not  able 
to  obtain  any  thing  but  water,  there  being  an  unusual  scarcity 
of  bread  in  every  part  of  Norway,  and  at  the  time  not  more 
in  Bergen  than  a  bare  sufficiency  for  its  inhabitants  for  four 
or  five  weeks.  This  being  the  case,  after  replenishing  'my 
water  1  departed  on  the  2d  of  July,  and  stretched  over  to- 
wards the  Orkney  islands,  and  from  thence  toward  the  North 
Cape,  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting  a  convoy  of  25  or  SO 
sail,  which  it  was  said  would  leave  Archangel  about  the  mid- 
dle of  July,  under  the  protection  of  two  brigs  or  two  sloops 
of  war  ;  and  which  was  further  confirmed  by  two  vessels  I 
captured  on  the  13th  and  18th  of  the  same  month.  In  this 
object,  however,  the  enemy  had  the  good  fortune  to  disap- 
point me,  by  a  line  of  battle  ship  and  a  frigate  making  their 
appearance  off  the  North  Cape  on  the  19th  of  July,  just  as 
I  was  in  momentary  expectation  of  meeting  the  convoy;  on 
first  discovering  the  enemy's  two  ships  of  war,  not  being 
able,  owing  to  the  haziness  of  the  weather,  to  ascertain  their 
character  with  precision,  I  stood  toward  them  until,  making 
out  what  they  were,  I  hauled  by  the  wind  on  the  opposite 
tack  to  avoid  them  ;  but,  owing  to  faint,  variable  winds,  calms, 
and  entire  day-light  (the  sun  in  that  latitude,  at  that  season, 
appearing  at  midnight  several  degrees  above  the  horizon) 
they  were  enabled  to  continue  the  chase  upwards  of  80  hours ; 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [179 

during  which  time,  owing  to  different  changes  of  the  wind 
in  their  favour,  they  were  brought  quite  as  near  to  us  as 
was  desirable.  At  the  time  of  meeting  with  the  enemy's 
two  ships,  the  privateer  schooner  Scourge,  of  New- York, 
which  I  had  fallen  in  with  the  day  before,  was  in  company  ; 
but  their  attention  was  so  much  engrossed  by  the  President, 
that  they  permitted  the  Scourge  to  escape,  without  appearing 
to  take  any  notice  of  her. 

Being  thus  disappointed  in  meeting  with  the  convoy,  and 
a  still  further  portion  of  my  provisions  being  expended,  I 
determined  to  proceed  to  a  more  westerly  station,  and  ac- 
cordingly steered  to  gain  the  direction  of  the  trade  passing- 
out  of  and  into  the  Irish  Channel.  In  this  position,  between 
the  25th  of  July  and  2d  of  August,  I  made  three  captures, 
when  finding  that  the  enemy  had  a  superior  force  in  that 
vicinity,  I  found  it  expedient  to  change  my  ground  ;  and 
after  a  circuit  round  Ireland,  and  getting  into  the  latitude 
of  Cape  Clear,  steered  for  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland, 
near  to  which  I  made  two  more  captures,  and  by  the 
latter  one  found  that  the  Bellerophon  74,  and  Hyperion  fri- 
gate were  on  the  eastern  part  of  the  bank,  and  only  a  few 
miles  to  the  westward  of  me  ;  I  however  did  not  fall  in  with 
them.  From  the  eastward  edge  of  the  Grand  Bank,  to 
which  I  had  beat  all  the  way  from  the  N.  W.  coast  of  Ire- 
land (the  wind  having  prevailed,  without  intermission,  from 
the  1st  of  August  to  the  middle  of  September  from  west),  I 
steered  for  the  United  States,  without  seeing  a  single  vessel  of 
any  kind  until  the  22d  of  the  present  month,  being  near  the 
south  shoal  of  Nantucket  I  met  with  a  Swedish  brig  and  an 
American  cartel  (the  Russian  ship  Hoffnung)  from  London, 
bound  to  New- Bedford. 

By  this  time  my  provisions,  and  particularly  bread,  was  so 
nearly  consumed  as  to  make  it  indispensably  necessary  that  I 
should  put  into  the  first  convenient  port  after  gaining  the  re- 
quisite information  of  the  disposition  of  the  enemy's  crui- 
zers  as  would  enable  me  to  steer  clear  of  a  superior  force ; 
and  this  I  was  enabled  to  do  in  a  manner  which  I  shall  com- 
municate in  another  letter.  On  the  23d  instant  I  captured 
his  Britannic  majesty's  schooner  High  Flyer  (tender  to  ad- 
miral Warren),  with  which  vessel  I  now  have  to  inform  you 
of  my  arrival  at  this  port. 

Annexed  is  a  list  of  vessels  captured  and  destroyed,  in 
which  were  made  271  prisoners.  I  have  now,  however,  only 
55  prisoners  on  board,  having  sent  to  England  on  parole  78 
in  the  Duke  of  Montrose ;  76  in  the  Greenland  ship  Eliza 
Swan,  and  62  in  the  barque  Lion  of  Liverpool. 


180]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

During  my  cruize,  although  I  have  not  had  it  in  my  power 
to  add  any  additional  lustre  to  the  character  of  our  little  navy, 
I  have  nevertheless  rendered  essential  service  to  rn\  country, 
I  hope,  bv  harrassing  the  enemy's  commerce,  and  employing 
to  his  disadvantage  more  than  a  dozen  times  the  force  of  a 
single  frigate. 

My  officers  and  crew  have  experienced  great  privations 
since  I  left  the  United  States,  from  being  nearly  five  months 
at  sea,  and  living  the  last  three  months  of  that  time  upon  a 
scanty  allowance  of  the  roughest  fare;  and  it  is  with  peculiar 
pleasure  I  acquaint  you  that  they  are  all  in  better  health  than 
might  be  expected,  although  you  may  well  suppose. that  their 
scanty  allowance  has  not  been  of  any  advantage  to  their 
strength  or  appearance. 

The  High  Fiver  was  commanded  by  lieutenant  Hutchin- 
son,  second  of  the  St.  Domingo.  She  is  a  remarkably  fine 
vessel  of  her  class,  sails  very  fast,  and  would  make  an  excel- 
lent light  cruizer,  provided  the  government  have  occasion  for 
a  vessel  of  her  description. 

Just  at  the  moment  of  closing  my  letter,  a  newspaper  has 
been  handed  me  containing  captain  Broke's  challenge  to  my 
late  gallant  friend  captain  Lawrence,  in  which  he  mentions 
with  considerable  emphasis  the  pains  he  had  taken  to  meet 
the  President  and  Congress  with  the  Shannon  and  Tenedos. 

It  is  unnecessary  at  present  to  take  further  notice  of  cap- 
tain Broke's  observations  than  to  say,  if  that  was  his  disposi- 
tion, his  conduct  was  so  glaringly  opposite  as  to  authorise  a 
very  contrary  belief.  Relative  to  captain  Broke,  I  have  only 
further  to  say,  that  I  hope  he  has  not  been  so  severely  wound- 
ed as  to  make  it  a  sufficient  reason  to  prevent  his  re-assuming 
the  command  of  the  Shannon  at  a  future  day. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

JNO.  RODGERS. 
The  Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

List  of  Vessels  captured  and  destroyed. 

June  9,  brig  Kitty,  of  Greenock,  Robert  Love,  master,  of 
twp  guns  and  11  men,  from  Newfoundland  bound  to  Alicant 
(Spain),  with  a  cargo  of  codfish.  Ordered  her  for  France. 

June  10,  packet  brig  Duke  of  Montrose,  A.  G.  Blewett, 
commander,  of  12  guns  and  34  men,  from  Falmouth  bound 
to  Halifax.  Sent  her  to  England  as  a  cartel,  with  78  prison- 
ers. 

June  11,  letter  of  marque  brig  Maria,  of  Port  Glasgow 
(Scotland),  John  Bald,  master,  of  14  guns  and  35  men,  from 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [m 


Newfoundland  bound  to  Spain,  with  a  cargo  of  codfish — or- 
dered her  for  France. 

'  June  12,  schooner  Falcon,  of  Guernsey,  John  Mauger, 
master,  of  two  guns,  and  10  men,  from  Newfoundland  bound 
to  Spain,  with  a  cargo  of  codfish — ordered  her  for  France. 

July  12,  brig  Jane  and  Ann,  of  Salt  Coats,  Robert  Cald- 
well,  master,  from  Cork  bound  to  Archangel,  in  ballast,  took 
out  her  crew  and  sunk  her. 

July  18,  brig  Daphne,  of  Whitby,  William  Gales,  master, 
of  two  guns  and  nine  men,  from  South  Shields  bound  to 
Archangel,  in  ballast,  took  out  her  crew,  and  sunk  her. 

July  24,  ship  Eliza  Swan,  of  Montrose,  John  Young,  mas- 
ter, of  eight  guns  and  48  men,  from  a  Greenland  whaling 
voyage,  bound  to  Montrose  with  fish  blubber — ransomed  her 
for  500O  pounds  sterling. 

July  29,  brig  Alert  of  Peterhead,  George  Shand,  master, 
from  Archangel  bound  to  Oporto  (via  England),  with  a  car- 
go of  pitch  and  tar — took  out  the  crew  and  burnt  her. 

August  2,  barque  Lion,  of  Liverpool,  Thomas   Hawkins, 
laster,  of  eight  guns  and  52  men,  from  Greenland,  whaling 
voyage,  bound  to  Liverpool,  with  fish  and  blubber — ransom- 
1  her  for  3000  pounds  sterling. 

August  30,  hermaphrodite  brig  Shannon,  of  St.  Kitts,  John 
Perkins,  master,  from  St.  Kitts  bound  to  London,  with  a 
cargo  of  rum,  sugar  and  molasses — ordered  her  for  the  Uni- 
ted States. 

September  9,  brig  Fly,  of  Bermuda,  James  Boyey,  mas- 
ter, of  six  guns  and  nine  men,  from  Jamaica  bound  to  Lon- 
don, with  a  cargo  of  coffee — ordered  her  for  the  United 
States. 

September  23,  his  Britannic  majesty's  schooner  Highflyer, 
lieutenant  George  Hutchinson,  commander,  of  five  guns,  five 
officers,  and  34  men. 


CAPTURE    OF   THE    DART. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Rodgers,  to  the  Secretary  of 

the  Navy,  dated 
United  States'  Frigate  President^ 

Pawtuxet,  Oct.  7th,  1813. 

Sir,  enclosed  I  have  the  honour  of  transmitting  you  a  let- 
ter this  moment  received  from  lieutenant  Nicholson,  com- 
VOL,  i.  PART  ii.  [B  b] 


182]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

manding  the  gun  boats  at  Newport,   informing  me  of  the 
captun-  of  the  private  armed  sloop  Dart. 

With  great  respect  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sec. 

JOHN  RODGERS. 

The  Hon.  Wm.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Lieutenant  Nicholson  to  Commodore 
Rodgers. 

Newport,  Oct.  5,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  of  the  capture  of 
the  British  armed  sloop  "  Dart,"  by  the  revenue  cutter  of  this 
place  last  evening.  She  appeared  off  the  harbour  before 
sunset ;  the  captain  of  the  cutter  offered  his  services  to  go 
out ;  I  put  on  board  three  sailing  masters  and  about  20  men  ; 
she  immediately  made  sail  and  laid  aboard  the  Dart,  and 
carried  by  boarding ;  her  first  officer  was  killed ;  two  of  our 
own  men  were  wounded  slightly.  The  prisoners  I  send  for 
your  disposal. 

Very  respectfully,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

JOSEPH  NICHOLSON. 
Commodore  John  Rodggfs,  U.  S.  Frigate  President. 


CRUISE    OF    THE    ESSEX. 

Copies  of  Letters  from  Captain  David  Porter,  commanding  the 
United  States'  Frigate  Essex,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
dated 

United  States'  Frigate  Essex, 

Pacifc  Ocean,  July  2,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  on  the  29th  of 
April,  in  the  latitude  of  40°  N.  longitude  91°  15'  W.  about 
20  miles  to  the  northward  of  the  island  of  Albermarle,  one 
of  the  Gallapagos  in  the  Pacific  Ocean,  I  captured  the  Bri- 
tish ship  Montezuma ;  two  others  being  in  sight,  close  to- 
gether, distant  from  us  about  seven  miles,  which  we  were  in- 
formed were  the  British  letters  of  marque  ships  Policy  and 
Georgiana;  the  first  mounting  ten  guns,  six  and  nine-poun- 
ders ;  the  oilier  six  18-pounders,  four  swivels,  and  six  long 
blunderbusses,  mounted  on  swivels.  The  wind  being  light 
and  variable,  and  confiding  greatly  in  the  bravery  and  en- 
terpize  of  my  officers  and  men,  and  apprehensive  of  their 
escape,  from  the  prevalence  of  fogs  in  that  climate,  I  directed 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [183 

the  boats  of  this  ship  to  be  armed  and  manned,  and  divided 
into  two  divisions,  placing  the  first  under  the  command  of 
lieutenant  Downes,  first  lieutenant  in  a  whale  boat,  accompa- 
nied by  midshipman  Farragut.  The  officers  in  command 
of  boats  under  lieutenant  Downes  were,  lieutenant  S.  D. 
M'Knight,  in  the  third  cutter,  accompanied  by  midshipman 
W.  H.  Odenheimer,  sailing  master  John  P.  Cowell,  in  the 
jolly  boat,  accompanied  by  midshipman  H.  W.  Ogden,  and 
midshipman  George  Isaacs,  in  the  second  cutter.  The  se- 
cond division  under  the  command  of  lieutenant  Wilmer, 
second  lieutenant  in  the  pinnace,  accompanied  by  midship- 
man Henry  Gray,  and  master's  mate  James  Terry;  lieutenant 
Wilson  and  Mr.  Shaw,  purser,  in  the  first  cutter ;  and  lieute- 
nant Gamble,  of  the  marines,  in  the  gig.  Suitable  signals 
were  established,  and  each  boat  had  her  particular  station 
pointed  out  for  the  attack,  and  every  other  previous  arrange- 
ment was  made  to  prevent  confusion.  The  boats,  seven  in 
number,  rowed  off  in  admirable  order.  Guns  were  fired 
from  the  enemy  to  terrify  them;  they  rowed  up  under  the 
muzzles  of  the  guns,  and  took  their  stations  for  attacking  the 
first  ship,  and  no  sooner  was  the  American  flag  displayed, 
by  lieutenant  Downes,  as  the  signal  for  boarding,  and  the  in- 
tention was  discovered  by  the  enemy,  than  the  colours  were 
struck,  without  a  shot  being  fired  ;  so  much  were  they  daunted 
by  the  intrepidity  of  our  brave  officers  and  men.  They  then 
left  a  crew  on  board  the  prize,  and  took  their  stations  for  at- 
tacking the  other  vessel,  when  her  flag  was  also  struck,  on 
the  first  call  to  surrender.  Thus  were  two  fine  British  ships, 
each  pierced  for  20  guns,  worth  near  half  a  million  of  dollars, 
mounting  between  them  16  guns,  and  manned  with  55  men, 
well  supplied  with  ammunition  and  small  arms,  surrendered, 
without  the  slightest  resistance,  to  seven  small  open  boats, 
with  50  men,  armed  only  with  muskets,  pistols,  boarding 
axes,  and  cutlasses!  Be  assured,  sir,  that  Britons  have 
either  learned  to  respect  the  courage  of  Americans,  or  they 
are  not  so  courageous  themselves  as  they  would  wish  us  to 
believe. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient 
servant,  D.  PORTER. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

United  States*   Frigate  Essex,  at  Sea, 

Pacific  Ocean,  July  Id,  1813. 

Sir,  on  the  23d  March  last,  I  sailed  from ,  shaping  my 

course  to  the  northward,  and  on  the  26th  of  the  same  month 


184]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

fell  in  with  the  Peruvian  corsair  ship,  Nereyda,  mounting 
15  guns  ;  she  had,  a  few  days  before,  captured  two  Ameri- 
can whale  ships,  the  crews  of  which  (amounting  in  number 
to  24  men),  were  then  detained  prisoners  on  board  her ;  and 
they  could  assign  no  other  motive  for  the  capture,  than  thai 
they  were  the  allies  of  Great  Britain,  and  as  such,  should 
capture  all  American  vessels  they  could  fall  in  with  ;  there- 
fore, to  prevent  in  future  such  vexatious  proceedings,  I  threw 
all  her  armament  into  the  sea,  liberated  the  Americans,  and 
dismissed  the  Nereyda. 

I  then  proceeded  with  all  possible  despatch  for  Lima,  to 
intercept  one  of  the  detained  vessels,  which  had  parted  with 
the  Nereyda  only  three  days  before,  and  I  was  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  arrive  there  and  re-capture  her  on  the  5th  April,  at 
the  moment  she  was  entering  the  port.  This  vessel  (the  ship 
Barclay,  captain  Gideon  Randall  of  New  Bedford),  I  took 
under  my  protection,  and  have  had  her  with  me  ever  since. 

From  Lima  I  proceed  for  the  Gallapagos  island,  where  I 
captured  the  following  British  ships,  viz. 

Letters  of  Marque. 

Montezuma,  270  tons,  21  men,  two  guns  ;  Policy  275  do., 
26  do.,  10  do. ;  Georgiana,  280  do.,  25  do.,  6  do. ;  Atlantic, 
354  do.,  24  do.,  8  do  ;  Greenwich,  338  do.,  25  do.,  10  do. 

The  Georgiana  being  reputed  a  very  fast  sailer,  and  appa- 
rently well  calculated  for  a  cruizer,  I  mounted  16  guns  on 
her,  and  gave  the  command  of  her  to  that  excellent  officer, 
lieutenant  John  Downes,  with  a  complement  of  42  men,  ap- 
pointing midshipman  W.  H.  Hacklaway  acting  lieutenant  on 
board  her,  and  sent  her  on  a  cruize. 

Lieutenant  Downes  joined  me  at  Tumbez,  near  Guiaquil, 
on  the  coast  of  Peru,  on  the  24th  June,  after  capturing  three 
prizes,  to  wit : 

Letters  of  Marque  Ships. 

Hector,  270  tons,  25  men,  11  guns;  Catharine,  27O  do., 
25  do.,  8  do.  ;  Rose,  220  do.,  21  do.,  8  do. 

The  first  had  two  men  killed,  and  six  badly  wounded  in 
her  rencontre  with  the  Georgiana — and  the  Rose  was  dis- 
charged (after  being  deprived  of  her  armament)  with  all  the 
prisoners  captured  by  the  Georgiana,  as  they  amounted  to 
nearly  double  her  crew.  She  was  furnished  with  a  passport  to 
proceed  to  St.  Helena. 

My  own  prisoners  I  liberated  on  parole  at  Tumbez.  I 
found  by  experience  that  the  Georgiana  did  not  deserve  the 
character  given  of  her  for  sailing,  I  therefore  shipped  her 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [183 

officers  and  crew  to  the  Atlantic,  and  mounted  on  her  2O 
guns,  with  a  complement  of  60  men,  and  appointed  midship- 
man Richard  Dashiell  acting  sailing-master  on  board  her — 
to  this  vessel  I  gave  the  n:;me  of  the  Essex  Junior.  I  also 
fitted  up  the  ship  Greenwich  as  a  store  ship,  and  mounted  on 
her  20  guns,  placing  her  under  the  command  of  lieutenant 
Gamble,  of  the  marines.  On  board  her  I  have  put  all  the 
provisions  and  stores  of  my  other  prizes,  except  a  supply  of 
three  and  a  half  months  for  each,  and  have  by  this  means 
secured  myself  a  full  supply  of  every  necessary  article  for 
seven  months.  I  had  hoped  to  dispose  of  my  other  prizes 
at  Guiaquil ;  the  governors  in  Peru,  however,  are  excessive- 
ly alarmed  at  my  appearance  on  the  coast,  as  my  fleet  now 
amounts  to  nine  sail  of  vessels,  all  formidable  in  their  ap- 
pearance, and  they  would  if  they  dare,  treat  us  with  a  hosti- 
lity little  short  of  declared  enemies. 

I  have  given  to  Mr.  J.  G.  Cowell,  sailing  master,  an  ap- 
pointment to  act  third  lieutenant ;  midshipman  J.  S.  Cowan, 
to  act  fourth  lieutenant,  and  midshipman  Odenheimer,  as 
sailing  master.  I  beg,  sir,  that  the  appointment  of  those  of- 
ficers, as  well  as  of  lieutenant  S.  D.  M'Knight,  who  is  acting- 
second  lieutenant,  and  those  serving  on  board  the  Essex  Ju- 
nior, may  be  confirmed  by  the  department.  Drs.  Richard  R. 
Hoffman  and  Alexander  M.  Montgomery,  two  gentlemen  of 
great  merit,  who  volunteered  their  services  with  me  at  the 
commencement  of  hostilities,  have  received  acting  appoint- 
ments from  me,  the  first  as  surgeon,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occa- 
sioned by  the  death  of  Dr.  Miller;  the  other  as  surgeon's 
mate.  To  the  great  care  and  attention  of  those  gentlemen, 
may,  in  a  considerable  degree,  be  attributed  the  extraordi- 
nary health  of  the  crew — and  as  they  are  both  desirous  of 
joining  the  navy,  I  hope  their  appointments  maybe  confirmed. 

I  have  also  appointed  my  marine  officer  and  chaplain  to  the 
command  of  prizes ;  they  all  enter  with  much  cheerfulness 
into  their  new  duties  ;  and  if  the  expedition  should  prove 
successful,  it  will  not  be,  I  am  persuaded,  owing  to  our  want 
of  activity  or  vigilance  ;  and  of  this  you  must  be  satisfied, 
as  for  the  last  eight  months  we  have  been  constantly  at  sea, 
•with  the  exception  of  23  clays,  and  yet,  sir,  we  have  enjoyed 
extraordinary  health  and  spirits ;  no  symptom  of  the  scurvy 
having  yet  appeared  in  the  ship,  nor  have  we,  at  this  mo- 
ment, more  than  two  on  the  sick  list ;  and  their  diseases  are 
more  owing  to  the  infirmities  of  age  than  any  other  cause. 
Indeed,  sir,  when  I  compare  my  present  situation  with  what 
it  was  when  I  doubled  Cape  Horn,  I  cannot  but  esteem  my- 


386]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

self  fortunate  in  an  extraordinary  degree. — There  my  ship 
was  shattered  with  tempestuous  weather,  and  destitute  of 
everything;  my  officers  and  crew  half  starved,  naked,  and 
worn  out  with  fatigue.  Now,  sir,  my  ship  is  in  prime  order, 
abundantly  supplied  with  every  thing  necessary  for  her.  I 
have  a  noble  ship  for  a  consort  of  20  guns,  and  well  manned, 
a  store  ship  of  20  guns  well  supplied  with  the  best  of  every 
thing  that  we  may  want,  and  prizes  which  would  be  worth  in 
England  two  millions  of  dollars  ;  and  what  renders  the  com- 
parison more  pleasing,  the  enemy  has  furnished  all. — Excuse 
me,  sir,  for  not  making  known  my  present  intentions,  as  this 
letter  may  not  reach  you.  It,  however,  may  be  satisfactory 
to  you  to  know  how  I  intend  to  dispose  of  my  prizes.  Let 
it  suffice  to  say  that  I  shall  endeavour  to  [cypher.] 

British  letters  of  marque  are  numerous  in  these  seas,  and, 
were  it  not  for  my  arrival,  our  whale  fishers  would  have  been 
much  harrassed  ;  but  they  now  find  it  necessarv  to  keep  to- 
gether for  mutual  protection.  I  expect  to  be  [cypher],  but 
shall  be  [cypher.] 

Subjoined  is  a  list  of  deaths  since  I  left  the  United  States; 
and  I  beg  you  will  relieve  the  anxiety  of  my  family,  and  all 
our  friends,  by  communicating  as  much  of  this  letter  as  you 
may  think  proper, 

The  times  of  my  best  men  have  expired;  but  their  attach- 
ment to  the  ship,  and  their  zeal  for  the  service  we  are  enga- 
ged on,  prevent  all  complaints  on  that  account.  It  is  not  pro- 
bable that  you  will  hear  of  me  for  several  months  to  come,  un- 
less some  disaster  happens  ;  but  I  beg  leave  to  assure  you,  sir, 
that  I  shall  not  be  idle  ;  and  I  hope  before  my  return  to  make 
the  services  of  the  Essex  as  important  as  those  of  any  other 
single  ship.  We  may  not  he  individually  benefited,  but  we 
shall  do  the  enemy  much  injury,  which  will  be  a  sufficient 
compensation  to  us  for  all  the  hardships  and  privations  we 
must  naturally  experience,  while  cut  oft  from  all  communi- 
cation with  the  rest  of  the  world,  and  are  dependent  on  the 
precarious  supplies  the  enemy  may  afford. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient 
servant,  D.  PORTER. 

Hon.  Wm.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

List  of  Deaths  since  my  departure  from  the  United  States. 

1812,  December  3,  Levi  Holmes,  seaman,  palsy. 

1813,  Jamjary  24,  Edward  Sweeny,  O.  S.  old  age. 

1813,  January  24,  Samuel  Groce,  seaman,  contusion  of  the 
brain  bv  a  fall  from  the  main  yard. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [187 

1813,  March  1,  Lewis  Price,  marine,  consumption. 

1813,  April  4,  James  Shafford,  gunner's  mate,  accidental 
gun  shot — wound  of  the  lungs. 

1813,  May  25,  Dr.  Robert  Miller,  surgeon,  disease  of  the 
liver. 

1-613,  May  26,  Benjamin  Greers,  quarter-gunner,  inflamma- 
tion of  the  stomach. 

1813,  June  20,  John  Rodgers,  quarter-gunner,  fall  from 
the  main  yard. 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    THE    NORTH-WESTERN    ARMY. 

Camp  at  French-tozvn,  Jan.  20,  1813. 

On  the  River  Raisin. 
Brigadier-General  Winchester, 

Sir,  in  obedience  to  your  order  I  proceeded  on  the  march 
with  the  detachment  under  my  command,  to  Presqueisle,  on 
the  17th  instant,  where  the  reinforcement  under  lieutenant- 
colonel  Allen  arrived  at  7  o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  the  18th.  As 
I  informed  you  it  was  my  determination,  I  set  out  for  the 
camp  of  the  enemy  at  this  village — from  an  early  start,  to- 
gether with  the  advantage  of  a  passage  on  the  ice  of  the  lake, 
and  the  rapid  march  we  made,  we  were  enabled  to  meet  them 
by  three  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

When  we  were  within  three  miles  of  the  enemy,  correct 
information  was  obtained  that  they  were  prepared  to  receive 
us.  Having  arranged  the  troops  in  the  following  order — 
they  were  directed  to  prepare  for  action,  the  right  wings  com- 
posed of  the  companies  commanded  by  captain  M'Cracken, 
subalterns  lieutenant  Williamson  and  ensign  M'Clary;  cap- 
tain Bledsoe,  subalterns  ensign  Morrison  (acting  as  lieute- 
nant) and  ensign  Chinn  ;  captain  Matson,  subalterns  ensign 
Nash  (acting  as  lieutenant)  and  ensign  Cardwell.  The  left 
wing  composed  of  the  companies  commanded  by  captain 
Hamilton,  subalterns  lieutenant  Moore  and  ensign  Heron ; 
captain  Williams,  subalterns  lieutenant  Higgins  and  ensign 
Harrow ;  captain  Kelley,  subalterns  lieutenant  M'Guire  and 
ensign  Rash.  The  centre  composed  of  the  companies  com- 
manded by  captain  Hightower,  (17th  United  States'  regiment) 
subalterns  lieutenant  Holder  and  ensign  Butler;  captain  Col- 
lier, subalterns  lieutenant  Story  and  ensign  Fleet;  captain 
Sebree,  subalterns  lieutenant  Rull  and  ensign  Bowles.  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Allen  commanding  the  right  wing,  major 


188]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Graves  the  left,  and  major  Madison  in  the  centre.  Captain 
Ballard  ^acting  as  major)  was  placed  in  the  advance  of  the 
whole,  with  two  companies,  one  commanded  by  captain 
Hickman,  subaltern  lieutenant  Chinn — the  other  by  captain 
Graves,  subaltern  lieutenant  Comstock,  and  also  captain  James 
with  his  spies.  In  this  order  we  proceeded  within  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  of  the  enemy,  when  they  commenced  a  fire  on  us  with 
a  howitzer,  from  which  no  injury  was  received.  The  line  of 
battle  was  instantly  formed,  and  the  whole  detachment  or- 
dered to  move  on  the  direction  of  the  enemy  without  delay. 
The  river  at  this  time  being  between  us  and  the  enemy's  lines, 
we  succeeded  well  in  crossing  it,  though  the  ice 'in  many 
places  was  extremely  slippery.  Having  crossed  at  the  instant 
the  long  roll  beat  (the  signal  for  a  general  charge),  when  I 
ordered  major  Graves  and  major  Madison  to  possess  them- 
selves of  the  houses  and  picketing,  about  which  the  enemy 
had  collected,  and  where  they  had  placed  their  cannon.  This 
order  was  executed  in  a  few  minutes,  and  both  their  battal- 
ions advanced  amidst  an  incessant  shower  of  bullets  ;  neither 
the  picketing  nor  the  fencing  over  which  they  had  to  pass  re- 
tarded their  progress  to  success  ;  the  enemy  were  dislodged 
in  that  quarter — meantime,  colonel  Allen  fell  in  with  them  at 
a  considerable  distance  to  the  right,  when,  after  pursuing 
them  to  the  woods,  (a  distance  of  more  than  a  mile)  they 
then  made  a  stand  with  their  howitzer  and  small  arms,  covered 
by  a  chain  of  enclosed  lots  and  a  groupe  of  houses  ;  having 
in  their  rear  a  thick  brushy  wood  full  of  fallen  timber. — I  direct- 
ed brigade-major  Garrarcl  (one  of  my  aids)  to  instruct  majors 
Graves  and  Madison  to  possess  themselves  of  the  wood  on 
the  left,  and  to  move  up  towards  the  main  of  the  enemy  as 
fast  as  practicable  to  divert  their  attention  from  colonel  Al- 
len. At  the  moment  the  fire  commenced  with  the  battalions, 
the  right  wing  advanced.  The  enemy  were  soomdriven  from 
the  fences  and  houses,  and  our  troops  began  to  enter  the  wood 
after  them.  The  fight  now  became  close,  and  extremely  hot 
on  the  right  wing — the  enemy  concentrating  the  chief  of  their 
forces  of  both  kinds  to  force  the  line.  They  were  still  kept 
moving  in  the  retreat,  although  slowly,  our  men  being  much 
exhausted.  My  orders  to  majors  Graves  and  Madison  were 
executed  with  despatch  and  success — which,  joined  with  the 
exertions  of  colonel  Allen's  line,  completely  routed  the  ene- 
my— the  distance  they  retreated  before  us  was  not  less  than 
two  miles,  and  every  foot  of  the  way  under  a  continual  charge 
— the  battle  lasted  from  three  o'clock  till  dark.  The  detach- 


ISTSESS.]  STATE  PAPERS.  [193 

ordinary  limits,  without  submitting  to  consequences  not  less  ru- 
inous to  the  commerce  of  his  dominions,  than  derogatory  to 
the  rights  of  his  crown,  his  majesty  has  endeavoured,  by  a  re- 
stricted and  moderate  use  of  those  rights  of  retaliation,  which  the 
Berlin  and  Milan  decrees  necessarily  called  into  action,  to  recon- 
cile neutral  states  to  those  measures,  which  the  conduct  of  the 
enemy  had  rendered  unavoidable,  and  which  his  majesty  has  at  all 
times  professed  his  readiness  to  revoke,  so  soon  as  the  decrees  of 
the  enemy,  which  gave  occasion  to  them,  should  be  formally  and 
unconditionally  repealed,  and  the  commerce  of  neutral  nations 
be  restored  to  its  accustomed  course. 

At  a  subsequent  period  of  the  war,  his  majesty,  availing  him- 
self of  the  then  situation  of  Europe,  without  abandoning  the 
principle  and  object  of  the  orders  in  council  of  November, 
1807,  was  induced  so  to  limit  their  operation,  as  materially 
to  alleviate  the  restrictions  thereby  imposed  upon  neutral  com- 
merce. The  order  in  council  of  April,  1809,  was  substituted 
in  the  room  of  those  of  November,  1807,  and  the  retaliatory 
system  of  Great  Britain  acted  no  longer  on  every  country  in 
which  the  aggressive  measures  of  the  enemv  were  in  force,  but 
was  confined  in  its  operation  to  France,  and  to  the  countries 

81  which  the  French  yoke  was  most  strictlv  imposed,  and 
:h  had  become  virtually  a  part  of  the  dominions  of  France, 
he   United  States  of  America  remained,  nevertheless,  dis- 
fkd  ;  and  their  dissatisfaction  has  been  greatly   increased 
bv  an  artifice,  too  successfully  employed  on  the  part  of  the  ene- 
my, who  has  pretended  that  the  decrees  of  Berlin  and  Milan 
were  repealed,  although  the  decree  effecting  such  repeal  has 
never  been  promulgated  ;  although  the  notification  of  such  pre- 
tended repeal  distinctly  described  it  lo  be  dependent  on  condi- 
tions, in  which  the  enemy  knew  Great  Britain  could  never 
acquiesce  ;  and  although  abundant  evidence  has  since  appeared 
of  their  subsequent  execution. 

But  the  enemy  has  at  length  laid  aside  all  dissimulation ;  he 
now  publicly  and  solemnly  declares,  not  only  that  those  decrees 
still  continue  in  force,  but  that  they  shall  be  rigidly  executed 
until  Great  Britain  shall  comply  with  additional  conditions, 
equally  extravagant ;  and  he  further  announces  the  penalties  of 
those  decrees  to  be  in  full  force  against  all  nations  which  shall 
suffer  their  flag  to  be,  as  it  is  termed  in  this  new  code,  "  dena- 
tionalized." 

In  addition  to  the  disavowal  of  the  blockade  of  May,  1806. 
and  of  the  principles  on  which  that  blockade  was  established, 
and  in  addition  to  the  repeal  of  the  British  orders  in  council,  he 
ic  nands  an  admission  of  the  principle,  that  the  goods  of  an  en?- 
VOL.  i.  PART.  i.  C  e 


EL 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER.        [13TH  CONG. 

my,  carried  under  a  neutral  flag,  shall  be  treated  as  neutral ;  that 
neutral  property,  under  the  flag  of  an  enemy,  shall  be  treated  as 
hostile  ;  that  arms  and  warlike  stores  alone  (to  the  exclusion  of 
ship  timber,  and  other  articles  of  naval  equipment)  shall  be  re- 
garded as  contraband  of  war  ;  and  that  no  ports  shall  be  consi- 
derered  as  lawfully  blockaded,  except  such  as  are  invested  and 
besieged,  in  the  presumption  of  their  being  taken  [en  prevention 
d'etre  pris],  and  into  which  a  merchant  ship  cannot  enter  with- 
out danger. 

By  these  and  other  demands  the  enemy  in  fact  requires,  that 
Great  Britain,  and  all  civilized  nations,  shall  renounce,  at  his 
arbitrary  pleasure,  the  ordinary  and  indisputable  rights  of  ma- 
ritime war  ;  that  Great  Britain,  in  particular,  shall  forego  the 
advantages  of  her  naval  superiority,  and  allow  the  commercial 
property  as  well  as  the  produce  and  manufactures  of  France 
and  her  confederates,  to  pass  the  ocean  in  security,  whilst  the 
subjects  of  Great  Britain  are  to  be  in  effect  proscribed  from  all 
commercial  intercourse  with  other  nations ;  and  the  produce 
and  manufactures  of  these  realms  are  to  be  excluded  from 
everv  country  in  the  world,  to  which  the  arms  or  the  influence 
of  the  enemy  can  extend. 

Such  are  the  demands  to  which  the  British  government  is 
summoned  to  submit ;  to  the  abandonment  of  its  most  ancient, 
essential,  and  undoubted  maritime  rights.  Such  is  the  code  by 
which  France  hopes,  under  the  cover  of  a  neutral  flag,  to  ren- 
der her  commerce  unassailable  by  sea;  whilst  she  proceeds  to 
invade  or  to  incorporate  with  her  own  dominions  all  states  that 
hesitate  to  sacrifice  their  national  interests  at  her  command, 
and,  in  abdication  of  their  just  rights,  to  adopt  a  code  by  which 
they  are  required  to  exclude,  under  the  mask  of  municipal  re- 
gulations, whatever  is  British  from  their  dominions. 

The  pretext  for  these  extravagant  demands  is,  that  some  of 
these  principles  were  adopted  by  voluntary  compact  in  the  treaty 
of  Utrecht ;  as  if  a  treaty  once  existing  between  t\vo  particular 
countries,  founded  on  special  and  reciprocal  considerations, 
binding  only  on  the  contracting  parties,  and  which  in  the  last 
treaty  of  peace  between  the  same  powers,  had  not  been  revived, 
were  to  be  regarded  as  declaratory  of  the  public  law  of  na- 
tions. -Tffii 

It  is  needless  for  his  royal  highness  to  demonstrate  the  injus- 
tice of  such  pretensions.  He  might  otherwise  appeal  to  the 
practice  of  France  herself  in  this  and  in  former  wars,  and  to 
her  own  established  codes  of  maritime  law.  It  is  sufficient  that 
these  new  demands  of  the  enemy  form  a  wide  departure  from 
those  conditions  on  which  the  alleged  repeal  of  the  French  de- 


>T  SESS.]  STATE  PAPERS.  [195 

crees  was  accepted  by  America  ;  and  upon  which  alone,  errone- 
ously assuming  that  repeal  to  be  complete,  America  has  claimed 
a  revocation  of  the  British  orders  in  council. 

His  royal  highness,  upon  a  review  of  all  these  circumstances, 
feels  persuaded  that  so  soon  as  this  formal  declaration  by  the 
government  of  France,  of  its  unabated  adherence  to  the  princi- 
ples and  provisions  of  the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees,  shall  be 
made  known  in  America,  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
actuated  not  less  by  a  sense  of  justice  to  Great  Britain,  than  by 
what  is  due  to. its  own  dignity,  will  be  disposed  to  recall  those 
measures  of  hostile  exclusion,  which,  under  a  misconception  of 
the  real  views  and  conduct  of  the  French  government,  America 
has  exclusively  applied  to  the  commerce  and  ships  of  war  of 
Great  Britain. 

To  accelerate  a  result  so  advantageous  to  the  true  interests  of 
both  countries,  and  so  conducive  to  the  re-establishment  of  per- 
fect friendship  between  them  ;  and  to  give  a  decisive  proof  of 
his  royal  highness's  disposition  to  perform  the  engagements  of 
his  majesty's  government,  by  revoking  the  orders  in  council 
whenever  the  French  decrees  shall  be  actually  and  uncondition- 
ally repealed,  his  royal  highness  the  prince  regent  has  been  this 
day  pleased,  in  the  name  and  on  the  behalf  of  his  majesty,  and 
by  and  with  the  advice  of  his  majesty's  privy  council,  to  order 
and  declare  : 

"  That  if  at  any  time  hereafter,  the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees 
shall,  by  some  authentic  act  of  the  French  government  publicly 
promulgated,  be  expressly  and  unconditionally  repealed,  then 
and  from  thenceforth  the  order  in  council  of  the  7th  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1807,  and  the  order  in  council  of  the  26th  day  of  April, 
1809,  shall,  without  any  further  order,  be,  and  the  same  hereby 
are  declared  from  thenceforth  to  be  wholly  and  absolutely  revok- 
ed ;  and  further,  that  the  full  benefit  of  this  order  shall  be  ex- 
tended to  any  ship  or  vessel  captured  subsequent  to  such  authen- 
tic act  of  repeal  of  the  French  decrees,  although,  antecedent  to 
such  repeal,  such  ship  or  vessel  shall  have  commenced  and  shall 
be  in  the  prosecution  of  a  voyage,  which,  under  the  said  orders 
in  council  or  one  of  them,  wo«ld  have  subjected  her  to  capture 
and  condemnation  ;  and  the  claimant  of  any  ship  or  cargo  which 
shall  be  captured  at  any  time  subsequent  to  such  authentic  act 
of  repeal  by  the  French  government,  shall,  without  any  further 
order  or  declaration  on  the  part  of  his  majesty's  government  on 
this  subject,  be  at  liberty  to  give  in  evidence  in  the  high  court  oi 
admiralty  or  any  court  of  vice-admiralty,  before  which  such 
ship  or  vessel  or  its  cargo  shall  be  brought  for  adjudication,  that 
such  repeal  by  the  French  government  had  been  by  such  authen- 


196]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.     [ISTH  CONG. 

tic  act  promulgated  prior  to  such  capture  ;  and  upon  proof  there- 
of the  voyage  shall  be  deemed  and  taken  to  have  been  as  lawful 
as  it  the  said  orders  in  council  had  never  been  made  ;  saving, 
nevertheless,  to  the  captors  such  protection  and  indemnity  as 
they  may  be  equitably  entitled  to,  in  the  judgment  of  the  said 
court,  by  reason  of  their  ignorance  or  uncertainty  as  to  the  re- 
peal of  the  French  decrees,  or  of  the  recognition  of  such  repeal 
by  his  majestv's  government,  at  the  time  of  such  capture. 

"•  His  royal  highness,  however,  deems  it  proper  to  declare, 
that,  should  the  repeal  of  the  French  decrees,  thus  anticipated 
and  provided  for,  afterwards  prove  to  have  been  illusory  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy  ;  and  should  the  restrictions  thereof  be  still 
practically  enforced  or  revived  by  the  enemy,  Great  Britain  will 
be  obliged,  however  reluctantly,  after  reasonable  notice  to  neu- 
tral powers,  to  have  recourse  to  such  measures  of  retaliation  as 
may  then  appear  to  be  just  and  necessary." 

Westminster,  April '21,  1812. 

At  the  court  at  Carleton  House,  the  twenty-first  of  April,  one 
thousand  eight  h  mdred  and  twelve,  present,  his  royal  high- 
ness the  Prince  Regent  in  council. 

Whereas,  the  government  of  France  has,  by  an  official  report, 
communicated  by  its  minister  for  foreign  affairs  to  the  conserva- 
tive senate,  on  the  tenth  of  March  last,  removed  all  doubts  as  to 
the  perseverance  of  that  government  in  the  assertion  of  princi- 
ples, and  in  the  maintenance  of  a  system,  not  more  hostile  to  the 
maritime  rights  and  commercial  interests  of  the  British  empire, 
than  inconsistent  with  the  rights  and  independence  of  neutral  na- 
tions, and  has  thereby  plainlv  developed  the  inordinate  preten- 
sions which  that  system,  as  promulgated  in  the  decrees  of, Berlin 
and  Milan,  was  from  the  first  designed  to  enforce. 

And  whereas,  his  majesty  has  invariably  professed  his  readi- 
ness to  revoke  the  orders  in  council,  adopted  thereupon,  as  soon 
as  the  said  decrees  of  the  enemy  should  be  formally  and  uncon- 
ditionally repealed,  and  the  commerce  of  neutral  nations  restor- 
ed to  its  accustomed  course  : 

His  royal  highness  tl:e  prince*  regent  (anxious  to  give  the 
most  decisive  proof  of  his  royal  highness's  disposition  to  per- 
form the  engagements  of  his  majest\  's  government)  is  pleased, 
in  the  name  and  on  the  behalf  of  his  majesty,  and  by  and  with 
the  advice  of  his  majesty's  privy  council,  to  order  and  declare, 
and  it  is  hereby  ordered  and  declared,  that  }f,  at  any  time  here- 
after, the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees  shall,  by  some  authentic  act 
of  the  French  government,  publicly  promulgated,  be  absolutely 
and  unconditionally  repealed,  then,  and  from  thenceforth,  tb 


ISTSESS.]  STATE  PAPERS.  [197 

order  in  council  of  the  seventh  day  of  January,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seven,  and  the  order  in  council  of  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  nine,  shall, 
without  any  further  order,  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby  declared 
from  thenceforth  to  be  wholly  and  absolutely  revoked :  And. 
further,  that  the  full  benefit  of  this  order  shall  be  extended  to 
any  ship  or  cargo  captured  subsequent  to  such  authentic  act  of 
repeal  of  the  French  decrees,  although  antecedent  to  such  repeal 
such  ship  or  vessel  shall  have  commenced  and  shall  be  in  the 
prosecution  of  a  voyage  which,  under  the  said  orders  in  council, 
or  one  of  them,  would  have  subjected  her  to  capture  and  con- 
demnation ;  and  the  claimant  ol  any  ship  or  cargo  which  shall 
be  captured  or  brought  to  adjudication,  on  account  of  any  al- 
leged breach  of  either  of  the  said  orders  in  council,  at  any  time 
subsequent  to  such  authentic  act  of  repeal  by  the  French  go- 
vernment, shall,  without  any  further  order  or  declaration  on  the 
part  of  his  majesty's  government  on  this  subject,  be  at  liberty  to 
give  in  evidence,  in  the  high  court  of  admiralty,  or  any  court  of 
vice-admiralty  before  which  such  ship  or  cargo  shall  be  brought 
for  adjudication,  that  such  repeal  by  the  French  government 
had  been  by  such  authentic  act  promulgated  prior  to  such  cap- 
ture ;  and  upon  proof  thereof,  the  voyage  shall  be  deemed  and 
taken  to  have  been  as  lawful  as  if  the  said  orders  in  council 
had  never  been  made  :  saving,  nevertheless,  to  the  captors  such 
protection  and  indemnity  as  they  may  be  equitably  entitled  to 
in  the  judgment  of  the  said  court,  by  reason  of  their  ignorance 
or  uncertainty  as  to  the  repeal  of  the  French  decrees,  or  of  the 
recognition  of  such  repeal  by  his  majesty's  government  at  the 
time  of  such  capture. 

His  royal  highness,  however,  deems  it  proper  to  declare,  that 
should  the  repeal  of  the  French  decrees,  thus  anticipated  and 
provided  for,  prove  afterwards  to  have  been  illusorv  on  the  part 
of  the  enemy  ;  and  should  the  restrictions  thereof  be  still  practi- 
cally enforced,  or  revived  by  the  enemy,  Great  Britain  will  be 
compelled,  however  reluctantly,  after  reasonable  notice,  to  have 
recourse  to  such  measures  of  retaliation  as  may  then  appear  to 
be  just  and  necessary. 

And  the  right  honourable  the  lords  commissioners  of  his  ma- 
jesty's treasury,  his  majesty's  principal  secretaries  of  state,  the 
lords  commissioners  of  the  admiralty,  and  the  judge  of  the  high 
court  of  admiralty,  and  the  judges  of  the  courts  of  vice-admiral- 
ty, are  to  take  the  necessary  measures  herein  as  to  them  shali 
respectively  appertain. 

J  (Signed)  CHETWYND. 


iy8j  HISTORICAL  <  K 

Mr.  Russell  to  Mr.  Monroe. 
(Duplicate.) 
Sir,  London,  26th  April,  1812. 

I  beg  leave  to  hand  you  herewith  a  declaration  and  an  ordu 
in  council  of  this  government  of  the  twenty-first  of  this  montl 
and  a  copy  of  a  note  from  lord  Castlereagh  accompanying  the 
communication  of  them  to  me.     I  have  already  transmitted  tc 
you  other  copies  of  these  documents,  and  have  now  to  add 
copy  of  the  note  which  I  have  addressed,  in  reply  to  that  of  his 
lordship. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  highest  consideration,  sii 
vour  assured  and  faithful  servant, 

(Signed)  JONA.  RUSSELL. 

Mr.  Russell  to  Lord  Castlereagh. 
(Copy.) 
My  Lord,  18,  Bentinck  Street,  April  25th,  1812. 

I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  not 
which  your  lordship  addressed  to  me  on  the  21st  of  this  montl 
enclosing,  by  the  command  of  his  royal  highness  the  prince  re- 
gent, a  copy  of  a  declaration,  accompanying  an  order  in  council 
which  had  that  day  been  passed. 

It  would  have  afforded  me  the  highest  satisfaction  in  comim 
nicating  that  declaration  and  order  to  my  government,  to  havi 
been  able  to  represent  them  as  conceived  in  the  true  spirit 
conciliation,  and  with  a  due  regard  to  the  honour  and  interests 
of  the  United  States.  I  regret,  however,  that  so  far  from  be- 
ing able  to  perceive  in  them  any  evidence  of  the  amicable  senti- 
ments which  are  professed  to  animate  the  councils  of  his  royal 
highness,  I  am  compelled  to  consider  them  as  an  unequivocal 
proof  of  the  determination  of  his  Britannic  majesty's  govern- 
ment, to  adhere  to  a  system,  which,  both  as  to  principle  and  fact, 
originated  and  has  been  continued  in  error  ;  and  against  which, 
the  government  of  the  United  States,  so  long  as  it  respects 
itself,  and  the  essential  rights  of  the  nation  over  which  it  is  pla- 
ced, cannot  cease  to  contend. 

The  United  States  have  never  considered  it  their  duty  to  in- 
quire, nor  do  they  pretend  to  decide,  whether  England  or 
France  was  guilty,  in  relation  to  the  other,  of  the  first  violation 
of  the  public  law  of  nations  ;  but  they  do  consider  it  their  most 
imperious  duty  to  protect  themselves  from  the  unjust  operation 
of  the  unprecedented  measures  of  retaliation,  professed  by  both 
these  powers  to  be  founded  on  such  violation.  In  this  opera- 
tion, by  whichever  party  directed,  the  United  States  have  never 
for  a  moment  acquiesced ;  nor  by  the  slightest  indication  of 


IST  SESS.]  STATE  PAPERS.  [199 

such  acquiescence,  afforded  a  pretext  for  extending  to'them  the 
evils  by  which  England  and  France  affect  to  retaliate  on  each 
other.  They  have  in  no  instance  departed  from  the  ohservance 
of  that  strict  "impartiality  which  their  peaceful  position  required, 
and  which  ought  to  have  secured  to  them  the  unmolested  enjoy- 
ment of  their  neutrality.  To  their  astonishment,  however,  they 
perceived  that  both  these  belligerent  powers,  under  the  pretence 
of  annoying  each  other,  adopted,  and  put  in  practice,  new  prin- 
ciples of  retaliation,  involving  the  destruction  of  those  commer- 
cial and  maritime  rights  which  the  United  States  regard  as  es- 
sential and  inseparable  attributes  of  their  independence.  Al- 
though alive  to  all  the  injury  and  injustice  of  this  system,  the 
American  government  resorted  to  no  measures  to  oppose  it 
which  were  not  of  the  most  pacific  and  impartial  character,  in 
relation  to  both  the  aggressors.  Its  remonstrances,  its  restric- 
tions of  commercial  intercourse,  and  its  overtures  for  accommo- 
dation, were  equally  addressed  to  England  and  to  France  ;  and, 
if  there  is  now  an  inequality  in  the  relations  of  the  United  States 
with  these  countries,  it  can  only  be  ascribed  to  England  herself, 
who  rejected  the  terms  proffered  to  both,  while  France  accepted 
them  ;  and  who  continues  to  execute  her  retaliatory  edicts  on 
the  high  seas,  while  those  of  the  latter  have  there  ceased  to  ope- 

If  Great  Britain  could  not  be  persuaded  by  considerations  of 
universal  equity,  to  refrain  from  adopting  any  line  of  conduct, 
however  unjust,  for  which  she  might  discover  a  precedent  in  the 
conduct  of  her  enemy  ;  or  to  abandon  an  attempt  of  remotely 
uncertainly  annoying  that  enemy  through  the  immediate 
sure  destruction  of  the  vital  interests  of  a  neutral  and  unof- 
state  ;  yet  it  was  confidently  expected  that  she  would 
willing  to  follow  that  enemy  also  in  his  return  towards  jus- 
tice ;  and,  from  a  respect  to  her  own  declarations,  to  proceed 
pari  passu  with  him,  in  the  revocation  of  the  offending  edicts. 
This  just  expectation  has,  however,  been  disappointed,  and  an 
mption  of  the  flag  of  the  United  States  from  the  operation  of 
Berlin  and  Milan  decrees  has  produced  no  corresponding- 
modification  of  the  British  orders  in  council.  On  the  contrary, 
fact  of  such  exemption  on  the  part  of  France  appears  by  the 
claration  and  order  in  council  of  the  British  government  of 
21st  of  this  month  to  be  denied  ;  and  the  engagement  of  the 
:er  to  proceed  step  by  step  with  its  enemy  in  the  work  of  re* 
eal  and  relaxation,  to  be  disowned  or  disregarded. 

That  France  has  repealed  her  decrees,  so  far  as  they  concern- 
ed the  United  States,  has  been  established  bv  declarations  and 
facts  satisfactory  to  them,  and  which, it  was  presumed,  would 


200]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER.      [13TH  CONG. 

have  been  equally  satisfactory  to  the  British  government.  A 
formal  and  authentic  declaration  of  the  French  government, 
communicated  to  the  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
States  at  Paris,  on  the  5th  of  August,  1810,  announced  that  the 
decrees  of  Berlin  and  Milan  were  revoked,  and  should  cease  to 
operate  on  the  first  of  ihe  succeeding  November,  provided  that 
a  condition  presented  to  England,  or  another  condition  present- 
ed to  the  United  States,  should  be  performed.  The  condition 
presented  to  the  United  States  was  performed  ;  and  this  per- 
formance rendered  absolute  the  repeal  of  the  decrees.  So  far, 
therefore,  from  this  repeal  depending  on  conditions  in  which 
Great  Britain  could  not  acquiesce,  it  became  absolute,  indepen- 
dently of  any  act  of  Great  Britain,  the  moment  the  act  proposed 
for  the  performance  of  the  United  States  was  accomplished. 
Such  was  the  construction  given  to  this  measure  by  the  United 
States,  from  the  first ;  and  that  it  was  a  correct  one,  has  been 
sufficiently  evinced  by  the  subsequent  practice  of  France. 

Several  instances  of  the  acquittal  of  American  vessels  and  car- 
goes, to  which  the  decrees  would  have  attached,  if  still  in  force 
against  the  United  States,  have,  from  time  to  time,  been  present- 
ed to  his  Britannic  majesty's  government.  That  these  cases 
have  been  few  is  to  be  ascribed  to  the  few  captures,  in  conse- 
quence of  this  repeal,  made  by  French  cruisers  ;  and  should  no 
other  such  case  occur  it  will  be  owing  to  the  efficacy  of  this  re- 
peal, and  to  the  exact  observance  of  it,  even  by  the  most  wanton 
and  irregular  of  those  cruisers. 

From  the  1st  of  November,  1810,  to  the  29th  of  January  of 
the  present  year,  as  appears  by  a  note  which  I  had  the  honour  to 
addijfess  to  the  predecessor  of  your  lordship  on  the  8th  of  Febru- 
ary last,  the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees  had  not  been  applied  to 
American  property,  nor  have  I  heard  that  such  application  has 
since  been  made. 

But,  against  the  authentic  act  of  the  French  government  of 
the  5th  of  August,  181O,  and  the  subsequent  conduct  of  that 
government,  mutually  explaining  each  other,  and  confirming  the 
construction  adopted  by  the  United  States,  is  offered  a  report 
said  to  be  communicated  by  the  French  minister  of  foreign  af- 
fairs to  the  conservative  senate.  Without  pretending  to  doubt 
the  genuineness  of  that  report,  although  it  has  reached  this  coun- 
try only  in  a  newspaper,  yet  it  is  to  be  lamented  that  as  much 
form  and  evidence  of  authenticity  have  not  been  required  in  an 
act  considered  as  furnishing  cause  for  the  continuance  of  the  or- 
ders in  council,  as  in  an  act  which,  by  the  very  terms  of  those 
orders,  challenged  their  revocation.  The  act  of  the  5th  of  Au- 
gust, 1810,  emanating  from  the  sovereign  of  France,  officially 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [197 

• 

in  bis  bosom  which  induced  him  to  kill  him.  This* you  can- 
not but  be  assured  is  an  humbug  of  the  fellow's  own  making, 
to  screen  himself  from  the  odium  of  barbarity  — The  cap- 
tain's character,  and  the  danger  ihat  attended  his  carrying 
such  furniture  in  a  disastrous  battle,  gives  it  the 'lie. 
*  Captain  Woolfolk,  after  having  been  wounded  in  two  places, 
by  some  means  had  got  refuge  in  one  of  the  French'houses 
on  the  Raisin — he  was  discovered  next  day,  and  dragged 
from  his  asylum — he.  was  taken  from  the  house  of  a  Mr. 
Lasselle,  where  he  said  he  would  give  10OO  dollars  to  any- 
one who  would  purchase  him.  Mr.  Lasselle  said  it  was  out 
of  his  power,  but  he  had  no  doubt  his  brother  would  do  it, 
who  lived  at  hand — he  directed  his  owners  to  the  house  of 
his  brother,  but  as  they  were  on  their  way  an  Indian  from  a 
waste  house  shot  him  through  the  head. 

Ensign  Wells  was  taken  from  my  side  unhurt.  I  consi- 
dered him  alive  until  on  my  arrival  at  this  place,  captain 
Naggs  tells  me  he  was  killed  by  a  Puttawatamie  Indian  not 
long  after  he  was  taken. 

Many  fresh  scalps  have  been  brought  in  since  the  battle, 
and  dead  bodies  seen  through  the  country,  which  prove  that 
others  have  been  killed,  whose  names  I  have  not  been  able  to 
find  outj  independent  of  those  reported  to  colonel  Proctor. 

This,  sir,  is  all  the  information  I  have  been  able  to  collect 
concerning  those  who  have  been  massacred.  The  fifteen  or 
eighteen  mentioned  in  the  remarks  to  the  return  made  to  co- 
lonel Proctor,  whose  names  do  not  appear,  were  not  known 
by  those  who  saw  them  killed. 

Major  Graves  of  the  fifth  regiment  of  the  Kentucky  vo- 
lunteers, I  have  been  able  to  get  no  information  of,  further 
than  that  he  was  brought  to  the  river  Rouge  on  the  25th  or 
26th  of  January,  in  a  sleigh  ;  I  fear,  from  our  not  having 
lu  ard  any  thing  of  him  since,  that  he  is  no  more — and  that 
valuable  officer  for  ever  lost  to  his  country..  At  a  rough  guess, 
founded  on  the  few  facts  I  have  been  able  to  glean,  I  may  say 
with  some  certainty  that  there  are  still  thirty  or  forty  alive 
with  the  Indians. 

The  prospect  of  a  speedy  return  of  those  poor  fellows  I 
think  but  gloomy,  as  colonel  Proctor  has  issued  an  order  en- 
joining all  individuals  to  purchase  no  more:  the  Indians 
having  been  paid  a  greater  price  for  those  alreadv  delivered 
than  the  government  will  give. — Colonels  Wells',  Lewis',  and 
Allen's  servants  are  acting  as  valets  to  Indian  chiefs.  Cap- 
tain Hart's  servant  is  alive,  but  where  he  is,  is  uncertain. 

The  dead  of  our  army  are  still  denied  the  rights  of  sepul- 

VOL.  i.  PART  IT.  [D  d  ] 


198]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

ture  ;  at  'tVe  time  I  left  Sandwich  I  was  told  the  bogs  were 
eating  them  ;  a  gentle  man  told  me  he  had  seen  them  running 
about  with  sculls,  arms,  legs,  and  other  parrs  of  the  human 
system  In  their  mouths.  The  French  people  on  the  river 
Raisin  buried  captains  Hart,  Woolfolk,  and  some  others,  but 
it  was  more  than  their  lives  were  worth  to  have  been  caught 
pa^  ing  this  last  accustomed  tribute  to  mortality. 

I  several  times  agitated  the  subject  of  burying  the  dea"d 
while  in  company  with  British  officers,  but  they  always  an- 
swered that  the  Indians  would  not  suffer  it. 

Before  I  close  this  communication,  I  must,  in  justice  to  my 
own  feelings,  mention  those  of  our  fellow  citizens  of  De- 
troit who  were  most  serviceable  to  us.  Colonel  Elijah 
Brush,  Mr.  Richard  Jones,  Henry  I.  Hunt,  esq.,  Judge  May, 
major  Mack,  and  Mouse  Godfrey,  were  most  active  ;  Oliver 
Williamson,  esq.,  Mr/Chittenden,  Mr.  Ten  E\  ke,  Mr.  Smart, 
Dr.  Brown,  Mr.  Miller,  Mr.  M'Daniel,  Monsieur  Odrain, 
lieutenant  Reed,  Mr.  M'Comb,  and  many  others,  purchased 
provisions  and  alleviated  their  wants ;  others  befriended, 
whose  names  through  ignorance  or  want  of  retention  are  not 
inserted.  But  in  paying  a  just  tribute  to  our  patriotic  fellow- 
citizens,  who  for  their  services  to  us  are  driven  from  their 
homes,  our  fair  country-women  should  not  be  forgotten — 
young  ladies  were  frequently  seen  soliciting  their  fathers 
for  horses,  and  when  they  had  gained  their  point,  exchanged 
their  presents  for  Kentuckians.  Mademoiselle  Lasselle  and 
Labardie,  Miss  Scott,  M.  Hays,  and  others,  deserve  to  be 
mentioned. 

The  exertions  of  those  worthy  people  were  directed  and 
point  given  to  them  by  our  ever  to  be  venerated  countryman 
Augustus  B.  Woodward,  who  with  unwearied  zeal  exerted 
himself  in  our  behalf,  at  Detroit;  he  was  the  life  and  soul  of 
the  remaining  Americans,  the  man  to  whom  they  all  looked 
up  for  succour  in  the  hour  of  difficulty,  for  advice  on  every 
occasion.  This,  added  to  the  influence  he  at  first  had  with 
some  of  the  British  officers,  enabled  him  to  do  wonders  for 
us.  This  gentleman,  whose  exalted  understanding  entitles 
him  to  the  first  consideration  for  talents,  appears  to  have  no 
wish  separate  from  the  interest  of  his  countn  ;  though  emi- 
nently qualified  to  enjoy  society,  he  gives  up  all  its  sweets  to 
shield  the  unfortunate  of  his  country  from  savage  cruelty  and 
British  oppression. 

In  the  admiration  of  our  countrymen,  the  deed  of  our  ge- 
nerous enemies  should  be  rememben  d*.  Colonel  Baubee  took 
an  active  part  in  nvovidi".  r  welfare,  and  .showed 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [199 

he  possessed  a  generous  nature,  the  highest  attribute  of  a 
soldier. 

Coloiy-1  Elliot  was  serviceable  in  rescuing  some  prisoners 
from  the  Indians. 

-Major  Muir  is  truly  a  gentleman,  and  shewed  every  dis- 
position to  serve  us. 

The  reverend  Mr.  Pollard,  of  Sandwich,  visited  the  hospi- 
tal  frequently,  and  read  the  service  over  Wetherforcl  when 
he  was  interred.  Captains  Aikins,  Curtiss,  and  Parrow,  who 
commanded  the  guard  of  our  prisoners,  all  deserve  my  thinks. 
Dr.  Bowen  was  unwearied  *in  his  attendance  upon  the 
wounded,  and  during  our  stay  studied  onlv  to  alleviate  their 
pain.  He  was  ordered  on  to  this  place  with  me. 

Doctor  M'Keehan  is  the  gentleman  who  was  sent  through 
general  Harrison  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  attend  the  wounded 
—  his  wounds  prevented  him  from  doing  much  while  we  re- 
mained. He  is  a  worthy  man,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  the 
prisoners  will  do  well  under  his  care. 

Wishing  you  health,  and  all  the  happiness  your  situation 
permits, 

I  remain,  sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, ISAAC  BAKER. 

Ensign  2d  Regt.  U.  S.  Inf. 
General  James  Winchester. 


A  Return  of  the  American  Prisoners  who  were  tomahawked  by 

the  Indians  subsequent  to  the*  Battle  of  Frenchtown,  Janu- 

ary 22</,  1813. 

January  23d.  Captain  Pascal  Hickmap,  and  James  E.' 
Blvihe,  private,  in  Frenchtown.  Charles  Gerles,  private,  at 
Sandy  creek.  Thomas  S.  Crow,  private,  three  miles  from 
Frenchtown.  Daniel  Darnell,  Thomas  Ward,  and-William 
Butler,  privates,  between  Sandy  creek  and  Frenchtown. 
Jamittry  24.  Henry  Downy,  private,  jjcar  Brownstown. 
January  26.  John  P.  Sidney,  sergeant,  at  the  River  Rouge. 

In  addition  to  the  above  number,  I  saw  two  others  toma- 
hawked at  Sandy  creek  myself,  and  find  that  the  prisoners 
now  in  the  hospital  atSandwi,  h  saw,  say  15  or  18  others,  treat- 
ed in  the  same  manner.  Two  men  tell  me,  they  saw  one  who 
had  the  appearance  of  having  been  burned  to  death.  Those 
men  who  saw  Henry  Downy,  and  William  Butler  killed, 
tell  me  that  the  Indians  left  them  without  scalping. 

ISAAC  L.  BAKER,  Ensign  2d  U.  S.  Inf. 
Col.  Jff.  "Proctor. 


200]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Major-General  Harrison  to  the  Se- 
er rtarij  at  War,  dated  at  the  Miami  Rapids,  February  11, 
1813. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  to  you  the  deposition  of 
jVIeclard  Labardie,  who  was  at  the  river  Raisin  on  the  22d 
ultimo, "and  remained  there  till  the  6th  instant.  His  account 
,of  the  loss  of  the  enemy  in  the  action,  is  c  orroborated  by  se- 
veral oihers,  nor  is  there  the  least  reason  to  doubt  his  state- 
ment, :is  it  regards  the  horrible  fate  of  our  wounded  men. 
There  is  another  circumstance  which  plainly  shows  that  the 
British  have  no  intention  to  conduct  the  war  (at  least  in  this 
quarter)  upon  those  principles  which  have  been,  held  sacred 
by  all  civilized  nations.  On  the  30th  ultimo,  I  despatched 
Doctor  M'Keehan,  a  surgeon's  mate  in  the  militia,  with  a 
flag,  to  ascertain  the  situation  of  our  wounded.  He  was  at- 
tended by  one  of  our  militia-men  and  a  Frenchman.  On  the 
night  after  their  departure  they  halted  near  this  place,  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  a  few  hours'  sleep,  in  a  vacant  cabin'  upon 
the  bank  of  the  river.  The  cariole  in  which  they  travelled 
was  left  at  the  door  with  the  flag  set  up  in  it.  They  • 
discovered  by  a  party  of  Indians  (accompanied  it  is  said  by 
a  British  offi(  er)  and  attacked  in  the  manner  described  in  the 
deposition.  The  militia-man  was  killed  and  scalped,  the 
Doctor  and  the  Frenchman  *aken.  Doctor  M'Keehan  was 
furnished  with  a  letter  addressed  to  any  British  officer  whom 
he  might  meet,  describing  the  character  in  which  he  went, 
and  the  object  for  which  he  was  sent,  an  open  letter  to  gene- 
ral Winchester,  and  written  'instructions  to  himself,  all  of 
which  he  was  directed  to  show  to  the  first  officer  he  met  with. 
He  was  also  supplied  with  100  dollars  in  gold,  to  procure  ne- 
cessaries for  the  prisoners." 

The  affidavit  of  Medard  Labardie,  late  resident  near  the 
river  Raisin,  in  the  Michigan  territory.  He  being  sworn, 
saith,  he  was  in  his  house  when  he  heard  the  guns  at  the 
commencement  or  the  action  at  the  river  Raisin,  on  the  22<1 
January,  1813,  between  the  American  forces  under  general 
Winchester,  and  the  British,  Canadian,  and  Indian  forces, 
said  to  be  commanded  by  colonel  St.  George.  After  some 
little  time,  he  heard  that  the  Indians  were  killing  the  inhabi- 
tants as  well  as  the  Americans,  upon  which  lie  wont  towards 
the  scene  of  action,  in  order  to  save  his  family.  As  he  went 
on,  he  was  with  one  other  inhabitant  taken  prisoner  by  two 
Wvandot  Indians,  and  carried  prisoner  to  the  Indian  lines, 
from  which  he  saw  great  part  of  the  action.  The  right  wing 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [201 

of  the  Americans  had  given  way  before  he  got  a  sight  of  the 
action.  It  terminated  after  the  sun  was  some  hours'  high,  not 
far  from  11  o'clock,  A.  M.,  by  the  surrender  of  the  Ameri- 
can forces  that  then  remained  on  the  ground.  He  saw  the. 
flag  hoisted  by  the  British  sent  to  the  American  forces,  and 
saw  it  puss  three  times  tp  the  Americans  before  the  surren- 
der. He  could  not  understand  English,  but  understood  that 
general  Winchester  was  taken  prisoner  before  he  got  to  the 
lines  of  his  own  men  ;  that  he  was  compelled  to  carry  the 
flag  to  his  own  forces  after  he  was  taken  ;  that  he  understood 
the  reason  of  the  flag  passing  so  often,  was  that  the  Ameri- 
cans refused  to  surrender  upon  any  other  terms  than  that  the 
wounded  should  be  taken  care  of,  the  dead  buried,  and  the 
inhabitants  protected  in  their  property.  That  the  British  first 
refused  to  agree  to  these  terms,  but  filially  did  agree  to  them. 
He  also  understood  that  the  loss  of  the  British  and  Indians 
in  the  action  was  about  400  killed.  He  also  understood  that 
the  loss  of  the  Americans  in  the  action  was  about  180  killed. 

He  knows  that  on  the  day  of  the  action  all  the  prisoners 
who  were  able  to  march,  were  mnrched  off  towards  Maiden, 
the  wounded,  about  60  or  80  in  number,  left  in  two  houses 
without  any  of  their  friends  or  a  physician  to  take  care  of 
them,  and  without  any  British  officer  or  men.  About  10  In- 
dians remained  behind  upon  the  ground,  the  balance  of  the 
Indians  went  off  with  the  British,  and  he  was  told  by  some 
of  the  Canadian  militia,  that  the  British  had  promised  the 
Indians  a  frolic  that  night,  at  Stoney  creek,  about  six  miles 
from  the  river  Raisin. 

He  was  liberated  after  the  line  of  march  was  formed  for 
Maiden.  The  next  morning  he  was  in  the  houses  where  the 
wounded  were.  That  morning  about  50  Indians  returned, 
they  brought  whiskey  with  them ;  they  drank  some,  and  gave 
some  to  the  Indians  there,  and  between  9  and  10  o'clock,  A. 
M.,  commenced  killing  the  wounded,  then  set  fire  to  the 
houses  the  wounded  were  in,  and  consumed  them.  He  was 
at  his  father's,  on  this  side  of  the  Detroit  river,  about  seven 
days  after  the  action',  and  saw  across  the  river  the  prisoners 
marched  off  for  Niagara,  from  Maiden. 

He  saith  that  he  saw  taken  by  his  house,  by  captain  Elliott 
and  nine  Wyandot  Indians,  two  men  that  he  understood  had 
been  sent  by  general  Harrison  with  a  flag  to  the  British.  One 
of  the  men  (Mr.  Tessier)  he  knew,  the  other  he  did  not 
know,  but  understood  he  was  a  doctor.  He  had  not  an  op- 
portunity of  conversing  with  them,  but  understood  from  an 
inhabitant,  to  whom  Mr.  Tessier  communicated  it,  that  they 


:202]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

stopped  for  the  night  and  left  the  flag  hoisted  on  the  cariole  ; 
that  the  flag  was  taken  away  unknown  to  them,  and  that  the 
Indians  fired  on  them  ;  that  he,  Tessier,  told  them  they  \\ 
Frenchmen,  and  surrendered,  upon  which  the  Indians  ceased 
firing,  and  took  them.  They  then  mentioned  they  were  sent 
with  a  flag.  The  Indians  said  they  were  liars,  and  took 
them  off. 

Mr.  Tessier  was  set  at  libert\  at  the  river  Raisin,  and  re- 
mained two  days,  expecting  the  doctor  to  return  ;  at  the  end 
of  which  time  Tessier  was  sent  for  by  the  British  and  taken 
to  Maiden.  He  understood  that  the  doctor  was  sent  off  im- 
mediately to  Niagara  ;  the  doctor  was  wounded  in  the  ancle. 
He  understood  the  British  charged  the  doctor  and  Tessier 
with  being  spies.  And  further  he  saith  not. 

(Signed)  MEDARD  LABARDIE. 

Witness,  C.  Gratiot,  captain  of  engineers,  and  interpreter. 

Sworn  to,  before  me,  this  llth  day  of  February,  1813. 
Camp,  foot  of  the  Miami  Rapids. 

(Signed)  C.  S.   FODD,  £>w.  Judge  Ad. 

A  true  copy. 

;  R.  GRAHAM,  Aid-de-Cmnp. 

General  Orders. 
Adjutant-Generals  Office,  Quebec,  Feb.  8,  1813. 

His  excellency  the  commander  of  the  forces  has  the  high- 
est satisfaction  in  announcing  to  the  troops  under  his  com- 
mand another  brilliant  action  achieved  by  the  gallant  division 
of  the  army  at -Detroit,  under  colonel  Proctor. 

Information  having  beer  received,  that  an  advanced  corps 
of  the  American  army,  under  brigadier-general  Winchester, 
amounting  to  upwards  of  1OOO  strong,  had  entered  and  occu- 
pied Frenchtown  ;  about  26  miles  south  of  Detroit  ;  colonel 
Proctor  did  not  hesitate  a  moment  in  anticipating  the  enemy 
by  attacking  this  advanced  corps  before  it  could  receive  sup- 
port from  the  forces  on  their  march,  imder  general  Harrison. 

At  day-break,  on  the  22d  January,  colonel  Proctor,  bv  a 
spirited  and  vigorous  attack,  completely  defeated  general  Win- 
chester's division,  with  the  loss  of  between  4  and  500  slain; 
for  all  who  attempted  to  save  themselves  by  flight,  were  cut 
off  by  the  Indian  warriors. 

About  400  of  the  enemy  took  refuge  in  the  houses  of  the 
town,  and  kept  up  a  galling  fire  from  the  windows,  but  find- 
ing further  resistance  unavailing,  they  surrendered  them- 
selves at  discretion. 

On  this  occasion  the  gallantry  of  colonel  Proctor  was  most 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.    .  [203 

nobly  displayed,  in  his  humane  and  unwearied  exertions, 
which  succeeded  in  rescuing  the  vanquished  from  the  re- 
venge of  the  Indian  warriors. 

The  prisoners  at  me  close  of  the  action  amounted  to  one 
general,  one  colonel,  one  staff,  one  major,  nine  captains,  20 
subalterns,  27  Serjeants,  and  435  rank  and  file ;  but  the  In- 
dian warriors  were  hourly  bringing  in  prisoners,  and  had 
taken  a  strong  escort  of  the  enemy  with  500  hogs. 

Colonel  Proctor  reports  in  strong  terms  the  gallantry  dis- 
played by  all  descriptions  of  troops,  and  the  able  support  fe- 
'ceived  from  colonel  St.  George,  and  from  all  the  officers  and. 
m£n  under  his  command  ;  whose  spirited  valour  and  steady 
discipline  was  above  all  praise. 

The  Indian  chief  Round  Head,  with  his  band  of  warriors, 
rendered  essential  service  by  their  bravery  and  good  conduct. 

It  is  with  regret  colonel  Proctor  reports  the  British  loss 
amounts  to  24  killed,  and  158  wotfnded. 

Officers  rvounded — Colonel  St.  George,  four  wounds,  but 
not  severely — captain  Tallon  and  lieutenant  Clemow,  41st 
regiment — ensign  Ker,  R.  N.  E.  L.  regiment  -dangerously — 
lieutenants  Rollet,  Irwin,  and  midshipman  Richardson,  ma- 
rine departn&ent — captain  Mills,  licaitenants  M'Cormic,  Gor- 
don, and  ensign  Garvin,  Essex  militja. 

G.  O. —  Major-general  Glasgow  will  direct  a  salute  of  21 
guns  to  be  fired  at  12  o'clock  this  day,  on  this  glorious  occa- 
sion. 

(Signed)  EDW.  BAYNES,  Adj. -Gen.  N.  A. 

G.  O. — The  commander  of  the  forces  is  pleased  to  ap- 
point, till  further  orders,  or  until  the  pleasure  of  his  royal 
highness  the  prince  regent  be  known, 

Colonel  Vincent,  49th  regiment,  and  colonel  Proctor,  41st 
regiment,  to  have  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  in  U^per 
Canada. 

Lieutenant-colonel  Pearson,  inspecting  field-officer,  to  have 
the  rank  of  colonel  in  Kingston  and  the  eastern  district. 

Major  M'Donnell,  Glengary  light  infantry,  to  have  the 

rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  in  do. 

• 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  General  W.  H  Harrison  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War. 

Head-Stuar.lers,  Camp  Meigs,  9th  Mat/,  1813. 
Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  the  enemy  ha- 
ving been  several  days  making  preparations   for  raising  the 
siege  of  this  post,  accomplished  this  day  the  removal  of  tluir 
artillery  from  the  opposite  bank,   and  about  1^ 


204]  ,         HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

their  encampment  below,  were  soon  embarked  and  out  of 
sight.  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  you  an  agreement  en- 
tered into  between  general  Proctor  and  myself  for  the  dis- 
charge of  the  prisoners  of  the  Kentucky  militia  in  his  pos- 
session, and  for  the  exchange  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
regular  troops  which  were  respectively  possessed  by  us.  My 
anxiety  to  get  the  Kentucky  troops  released  as  early  as  pos- 
sible, induced  me  to  agree  to  the  dismission  of  all  the  prison- 
ers I  had,  although  there  was  not  as  many  of  ours  in  general 
Proctor's  possession.  The  suiplusage  is  to  be  accounted  for, 
and  as  many  of  ours  released  from  their  parole,  whenever  the 
government  may  think  proper  to  direct  it. 

The  two  actions  on  this  side  the  river  on  the  5th,  were  in- 
finitely more  important  and  more  honourable  to  our  arms 
than  I  had  at  first  conceived.  In  the  sortie  made  upon  the 
left  flank,  captain  Waring's  company  of  the  19th  regiment,  a 
detachment  of  12  months'  volunteers  under  major  Alexan- 
der, and  three  companies  of  Kentucky  militia,  under  colonel 
Boswell,  defeated  at  least  double  the  number  of  Indians  and 
militia. 

The  sortie  on  the  right  was  still  more  glorious  ;  the  British 
batteries  in  that  direction  were  defended  by  thj:  grenadiers 
and  light  infantry  companies  of  the  41st  regiment,  amounting 
to  20O  effectives,  and  two  companies  of  militia,  flanked  by  a 
host  of  Indians.  The  detachment  sent  to  attack  those  con- 
sisted of  all  the  men  off  duty  belonging  to  the  companies  of 
Croghan  and  Bradford  of  the  17th  regiment,  Langham  Elli- 
ott's (late  Graham's)  and  Warm's  of  the  19th,  about  80  of 
major  Alexander's,  and  a  single  company  of  Kentucky  mili- 
tia under  captain  Sebry,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  not  more 
than  340.  Yet  the  event  of  the  action  was  not  a  moment 
doubtful,  and  had  not  the  British  troops  been  covered  in  their 
retreat  by  their  allies,  the  whole  of  them  would  have  been 
taken. 

It  is  not  possible  for  troops  to  behave  better  than  ours  did 
throughout — all  the  officers  exerted  themselves  to  execute 
my  orders,  and  the  enemy,  who  had  a  full  view  of  our  ope- 
rations from  the  opposite  shore,  declared  that  they  had  never 
seen  so  much  work  performed  in  so  short  a  time. 

To  all  the  commanders  of  corps  I  feel  particular  obliga- 
tions. These  were  colonel  Miller  qi  the  19th  infantry,  colo- 
nel Mills  of  the  Ohio  militia,  major  Stoddard  of  the  artil- 
lery, major  Ball  of  the  dragoons,  and  major  Johnson  of  the 
Kentucky  militia.  Captain  Gratiot  of  the  engineers  having 
been  for  a  long  time  much  indisposed,  the  task  of  fortifying 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [205 

this  post  devolved  on  captain  Wood.  It  could  not  be  placed 
in  better  hands.  Permit  me  to  recommend  him  to  the  pre- 
sident, and  to  assure  you  that  any  mark  of  his  approbation 
bestowed  on  captain  Wood  would  be  highly  gratifying  to  the 
whole  of  the  troops  who  witnessed  his  arduous  exertions. 

From  major  Hukill,  acting  inspector-general,  my  aid-de- 
camp major  Graham,  lieutenant  O'Fallon,  who  has  done  the 
duty  of  assistant  adjutant-general  in  the  absence  of  major 
Adams,  and  my  volunteer  aid-de-camp  John  Johnson,  esq.,  I 
received  the  most  useful  assistance. 

I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  you  a  list  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  during  the  siege  and  the  two  sorties  ;  those  of  the 
latter  w«re  much  greater  than  I  had  at  first  expected. 

Want  of  sleep  and  exposure  to  the  continued  rains  which 
have  fallen  almost  every  day  for  some  time  past,  renders  me 
incapable  of  mentioning  many  interesting  particulars  ;  amongst 
others  a  most  extraordinary  proposition  of  general  Proctor's, 
on  the  subject  of  the  Indians  within  our  boundary-*— this 
shall  form  the  subject  of  a  communication  to  be  made  to- 
morrow, or  next  day,  and  for  which  I  will  provide  a  safer 
conveyance  than  that  which  carries  this.  All  the  prisoners 
and  deserters  agree  in  saying  that  the  information  given  to 
major  Stoddard  by  Ryland,  of  the  British  having  launched 
a  sloop  of  war  this  spring,  is  incorrect,  and  the  most  of  them 
say  that  the  one  which  is  now  building  will  not  be  launched 
for  many  weeks. 

KI  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  with  great  respect,  yourhum- 
;  servant, 
WM.  HENRY  HARRISON. 
7?z.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  War. 
P.  S.   Captain  Price  of  the  regiment  of  light  artillery,  and 
the  90  regulars,  prisoners  with  general  Proctor,  were   taken 
on  the  N.  W.  side  of  the  river,  with   the  Kentucky  militia, 
e  had  no  prisoners  taken  on  this  side  during  the  siege. 


Copy  of  a  Despatch  from  Major-General  William   H.  Harri- 

»son,  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated 
Head-quarters,  Lower  Sandusky,  May  13//J,  1813. 

Sir,  having  ascertained  that  the  enemy  (Indians  as  well  as 
British)  had  entirely  abandoned  the  neighbourhood  oi  the 
Rapids,  I  left  the  command  of  Camp  Meigs  with  general 
Clav,  and  came  here  last  night.  It  is  with  the  greatest  sa- 
tisfaction, I  iniorm  you,  sir,  that  I  have  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve, that  the  loss  of  the  Kentucky  troops  in  killed  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river  does  not  exceed  60.  On  the  10th 

VOL,  i.  PART  n.  [E  e] 


206]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

and  llth  instant,  I  caused  the  ground  which'  was  the  scene  of 
action  and  its  environs  to  be  carefullv  examined,  and  alter 
the  most  diligent  search  45  bodies  only  of  our  men  were  dis- 
covered— amongst  them  was  the  leader  of  the  detachment, 
colonel  Dudley.  No  other  officer  of  note  fell  in  the  action. 
I  have  strong  reason  to  believe  that  a  considerable  number  of 
the  Kentuckians  effected  their  retreat  up  the  river  to  Fort 
Winchester.  General  Proctor  did  not  furnish  me  with  a  re- 
turn of  the  prisoners  in  his  possession,  although  repeatedly 
promised.  His  retreat  was  as  precipitate  as  it  could  properly 
be,  leaving  a  number  of  cannon  ball,  a  new  elegant  sling  car- 
riage for  cannon,  and  other  valuable  articles.  The  night  be- 
fore his  departure  two  persons  that  were  employed  in  the 
British  gun-boats  (Americans  by  birth)  deserted  to  us.  The 
information  they  gave  me  was  very  interesting — they  say  that 
the  Indians,  of  which  there  were  from  160O  to  2000,  left  the 
British  the  day  before  their  departure  in  a  high  state  of  dis- 
satisfaction, from  the  great  loss  they  had  sustained  in  the  se- 
veral engagements  of  the  5th,  and  the  failure  of  the  British 
in  accomplishing  their  jjromise  of  taking  the  post  at  the  Ra- 
pids. From  the  account  glv^n  by  these  men,  my  opinion  is 
confirmed  of  the  great  superiority  of  the  enemy  which  were 
defeated  by  our  troops  in  the  two  sallies  made  on  the  5th  in- 
stant. That  led  bv  colonel  Miller  did  not  exceed  350  men, 
and  it  is  very  certain  that  they  defeated  200  British  regulars, 
150  militia,  and  four  or  500  Indians.  That  American  regu- 
lars (although  they  were  raw  recruits),  and  such  men  as  com- 
pose the  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  and  Petersburg,  Virginia, 
volunteers,  should  behave  well,  is  not  to  be  wondered  at — but 
that  a  company  of  militia  should  maintain  its  ground  against 
four  times  its  numbers,  as  did  captain  Sebres  of  the  Ken- 
tuckv,  is  truly  astonishing.  These  brave  fellows  were  at 
length,  however,  entirelv  surrounded  by  Indians,  and  would 
have  been  entirely  cut  off,  brit  for  the  gallantry  of  lieutenant 
Gwynne  of  the  19th  regiment,  who,  with  part  of  captain  El- 
liott's company,  charged  the  enemv  and  released  the  Ken- 
tuckians. I  enclose  you  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded 
during  the  whole  sier  .  considerable  ku-g.-r  than  I  had 

supposed  it  would  be  when  I  last  wrote  .    it  is  sa- 

tisfactory to   know  th;r  they   did  not  bkei.  — but  in 

the  course  of  successful  exertions.  The  r  turn  dots  not  em- 
brace those  who  fell  on  the  N.  W.  side  of  the  Miami. 

You  will  also. .receive  herewith  a  monthly  return  of,  the 
troops  at  Camp  Meigs  for  the  last  month;  the  communica- 
tion with  the  other  posts  being  cut  off,  the  returns  were  net 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [20? 

received A   copy  of  general  Clay's  report  to  me  of  the 

manner  of  his  executing  my  order  for  the  attack  on  the  ene- 
my's batteries,  is  likewise  forwarded,  by  which  it  will  be  seen 
that  my  intentions  were  perfectly  understood,  and  the  great 
facility  with  which  they  might  have  been  executed  is  appa- 
rent to  every  individual  who  witnessed  the  scene.  Indeed 
the  cannon  might  have  been  spiked,  the  carriages  cut  to 
pieces,  the  magazine-  destroyed,  and  the  retreat  effected  to  the 
boats  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  as  none  were  killed  in  taking 
the  batteries,  so  complete  was  the  surprise. 

An  extensive  open  plain  intervenes  between  the  river  and 
the  hill  upon  which  the  batteries  of  the  enemy  \Verc  placed ; 
this  plain  was  raked  by  four  of  our  eighteen-pounders,  a 
twelve,  and  a  six.  The  enemy,  even  before  their  guns  were 
spiked,  could  not  have  brought  one  to  bear  upon  it.  So  per- 
fectly secured  was  their  retreat,  that  the  150  men  who  came 
off  effected  it  without  loss,  and  brought  off  some 'of  the 
wounded,  one  of  them  upon  the  backs  of  his  comrades.  The 
Indians  followed  them  to  the  woods,  but  dared  not  enter  into 
the  plain. 

I  am  unable  to  form  a  correct  estimate   of  the  enemy's 
force.     The  prisoners  varied  much  in  their  accounts ;  those 
who  made  them  least,  stated  the  regulars  at  560,  and  militia 
at  800;  but  the  numbers  of  Indians  were  beyond  compari- 
son greater  than  have  ever  been  brought  into  the  field  he- 
re ;  numbers  arrived  after  the  siege  commenced.     I  have 
used  their  camps  on  the  south-east  side  of  the  river  to  be 
rticularly  examined,  anft  the  general  opinion  is,  that  there 
uld  not  have  been  fewer  on  that  side   than  1000  or  1200; 
they  were  indeed  the  efficient  force  of  the  enemy. 

I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  fa- 
vours of  the  14th,  18th,  and  28th  ultimo,  and  4th  im; 

I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  major  Stoddard  died  the 
night  before  I  leVt  the  Rapids,  of  a  lock-jaw,  produced  by  a 
slight  wound  from  a  fragment  of  a  shell  which  struck  him  on 
the  thigh.  Several  have  died  in  this  way  from  their  great 
and  unavoidable  exposure  to  the  cold ;  but  perhaps  there 
never  were  so  many  instances  of  desperate  wounds  being 
likely  to  do  well. 

The  gallant  captain  Bradford  will  recover. 
I  shall  go  from  here  to  Upper  Sandusky,  and  shall  take  my 
station  at  Delaware  or  Franklinton  until  the  troops  arc  as- 
sembled.    General  Clay,   who  commands  at  the  Rapids,  is  a 
man  of  capacity,  and  entirely  to  be  relied  on. 


208]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  sir,  your  hum- 
ble servant, 

WM.  HENRY  HARRISON. 

The  Hon.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  at  War. 

Return  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the  siege  of  Camp 
Meip:s,  and  the  several  sorties  of  the  5th  instant. 

Killed — United  States'  artillerv,  one  ;  do.  infantry,  39 ; 
do.  dragoons,  three;  Kentucky  militia,  30;  Ohio  do.,  three; 
12  months'  volunteers,  two  ;  detachment  of  infantry  of  the 
United  States,  three — total,  81. 

Wounded — United  States' infantry,  90 ;  do.  dragoons,  17; 
Kentucky  militia,  42 ;  Ohio  do.,  8  ;  12  months'  volunteers, 
29 ;  detachment  of  infantry  of  the  United  States,  three— to- 
lal,  189.  Total  killed  and  wounded,  269. 

Remarks. 

Majors  Stoddard  and  Hukill — the  former  died  of  his 
wounds,  the  latter  slightly  wounded. 

Sixty-four  of  the  above  were  killed  in  the  sorties,  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty-four  wounded:  the  balance,  eighty-one, 
killed  and  wounded  within  the  fortified  camp. 

J.  O.  FALLON, 
Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-Genera!. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  General  Clay  to  Genera!  Harrison. 

Camp  at  Fort  JUcigs^  May  13,  J813. 

Sir,  on  the  5th  instant,  about  8  o'clock,  A.  M.,  descending 
the  Miami  of  the  Lake,  about  midway  to  Rapids,  with  120O 
of  the  Kentucky  troops  in  18  flat-bottomed  boats,  I  was  met 
by  captain  Hamilton  and  a  subaltern,  rvho  delivered  me  (as 
he  said)  the  orders  of  major-general  Harrison  to  the  follow- 
ing effect : 

u  You  must  detach  about  800  men  from  your  brigade,  who 
will  land  at  a  point  I  will  show  about  one  or  one  and  a  half 
miles  above  the  fort,  and  I  will  conduct  them  to  the  British 
batteries  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  They  must  take  pos- 
ion  of  the  enemy's  cannon,  spike  them,  cut  down  the  car- 
riages, and  return  to  their  boats." 

Observing  that  tlv.  British  force  at  their  large  batteries  wr.s 
inconsiderable,  but  that  their  main  force  was  at  the  old  gar- 
rison about  one  and  a  half  miles  below  on  the  same  side  of 
the  river ;  that  the  Indian  forces  were  chiefly  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  river :  u  The  balance  of  the  men  under  your 
command  must  land  on  the  right  bank  opposite  the  first  land- 
ing, and  will  fight  their  way  through  the  Indians  to  the  fort," 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [209 

observing  that  the  route  thus  to  be. taken  would  be  shown  by 
a  subaltern  officer  there,  in  company  with  captain  Hamilton, 
who  would  land  the  perogue  at  the  point  on  the  right  bank, 
at  which  the  boats  would  land. 

The  order  of  descending  the  river  in  boats  was  the  same 
as  the  order  of  march  in  line  of  battle,  in  solid  column,  each 
officer  taking  position  according  to  his  rank.  Colonel  Dud- 
ley, the  eldest  colonel,  led  the  van,  and  in  this  order  the  river 
had  been  descended.  As  soon  as  captain  Hamilton  had  de- 
livered these  orders,  being  in  the  13th  boat  from  the  front,  I 
directed  him  to  proceed  immediately  to  colonel  Dudley,  and 
order  him  to  take  the  men  in  the  12  front  boats,  and  execute 
general  Harrison's  orders  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river ;  and 
to  post  his  (captain  Hamilton's)  subaltern  on  this  right  bank 
to  conduct  mvself  with  the  men  in  the  six  boats  to  the  fort. 
I  ordered  the  five  boats  in  the  rear  to  fall  in  a  line  and  follow 
me.  High  winds  and  the  rapidity  of  the  current  drove  four 
of  the  rear  boats  ashore  in  the  attempt  to  follow  on  accord- 
ing to  order,  where  they  remained  a  short  time,  sufficient, 
however,  to  detain  them  half  or  three  quarters  of  a  mile  to 
the  rear.  To  land  according  to  order  I  kept  close  along  the 
right  bank  until  opposite  colonel  Dudley's  landing.  There  I 
found  no  guide  left  to  conduct  me  to  the  fort,  as  captain  Ha- 
milton had  promised.  I  then  made  an  attempt  to  cross  the 
river<fend  join  colonel  Dudley,  but  from  the  rapid  current  on 
the  falls  I  was  unable  to  land  on  the  point  with  him.  Being 
nearly  half  way  across  the  river,  and  the  waves  running  too 
high  to  risk  the  boat  then  driving-  down  the  current  sidewisc 
—veered  about  the  boat  and  rowed  the  boat  the  best  way  we 
could  to  save  our  boat. 

My  attempt  to  cross  the  river  to  colonel  Dudley  occasion- 
ed all  the  boats  (I  presume  in  the  rear  of  me),  and  which 
were  then  out  of  nailing  distance,  to  cross  over  and  land 
with  colonel  Dudley. — Having  been  defeated  in  a  landing  on 
the  left,  we  then  endeavoured  to  effect  one  on  the  right,  even 
without  a  guide :  but  before  a  landing  could  be  effected  we 
received  a  brisk  fire  from  the  enemy  on  shore,  which  was  re- 
turned and  kept  up  on  both  sides.  And  I  was  in  this  un- 
avoidable situation  compelled  to  make  to  Fort  Meigswithno 
other  force  than  about  50  men  on  board  (the  other  boats  be- 
ing still  in  the  rear),  and  to  receive  the  enemv's  fire  until  we 
arrived  under  the  protection  of  the  fort.  Colonel  Boswell's 
command  fexcept  the  men  in  my  boat)  having  landed  to 
join  colonel  Dudley,  were,  as  I  have  been  informed,  ordered 
by  captain  Hamilton  immediately  to  embark,  and  land  on 


210]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

the  right-hand  shore  about  a  mile  above  the  fort,  and  prepare 
to  fighr  his  way  through  to  the  garrison. 

The  colonel  embarked,  landed  as  he  conceived  at  the  pro- 
per point,  pursuant  to  captain  Hamilton's  order,  and  was 
forming  his  men  in  order  of  battle,  when  he  was  met  by- 
captain  Shaw,  and  ordered  to  march  into  the  garrison  at 
open  order,  the  safest  route. 

When  my  own  boat  landed  we  were  met  by  two  men,  who 
took  charge  of  the  boat,  as  we  understood,  to  bring  her  un- 
der the  protection  of  the  fort  batteries.  Believing  our  bag- 
gage to  be  thus  made  safe  we  forbid  our  servants  to  carry 
unv  portion  of  it,  but  loaded  them  with  cannon  ball,  which 
they  bore  to  the  fort.  Our  baggage  was,  however,  taken  by 
the  Indians  in  a  very  short  time  after  we  left  the  boat.  Upon 
receiving  the  orders  of  captain  Hamilton,  I  asked  if  he  had 
brought  spikes  to  spike  the  enemy's  cannon — to  which  he 
replied,  he  had  plenty. 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GREEN  CLAY,  Brig.-Gen. 
His  Excellency  Major-General  Harrison. 

P.  S.  Captain  Hamilton,  on  delivering  the  orders  of  gene- 
ral Harrison,  observed,  that  the  object  of  landing  and  march- 
ing a  portion  of  the  troops  on  the  right  bank  was  to  draw 
the  attention  of  the  Indians,  and  by  thus  engaging  them  af- 
ford an  opportunity  to  the  garrison  to  make  a  sally,  and  by 
a  circuitous  route  surprise  and  carry  the  batteries  and  cannon 
of  the  enemy  below  the  fort  on  the  right  bank. 

G.  C.  Bg.-Gen. 
A  true  copy. 

G.  CROGHAN,  A.  D.  C. 

From  the  London  Gazette  Extraordinary. 
Copy  of  a  Despatch  addressed  to  Earl  Batlntrst,  one  of  his  Ma- 

jestifs  principal  Secretaries  of  State. 

Kingston,  June  14,  1813. 

My  Lord,  I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  to  vour  lordship 
the  inclosed  report  from  colonel  Proctor,  which,  owing  to  the 
temporary  possession  of  York  by  the  enemy,  has  only  just 
reached  me  by  a  circuitous  route.  I  sincerely  congratulate  your 
lordship  on  this  additional  proof  of  the  steadv  discipline  and 
valour  of  his  majesty's  forces  on  the  Detroit  frontier,  and 
which  have  enabled  them,  under  the  judicious  arrangements 
of  their  distinguished  leader,  so  successfully  to  repel  the  at- 
tack of  the  enemy.  By  the  last  accounts  received  from  co- 
lonel Proctor,  dated  the  4th  instant,  he  was  still  at  Sand' 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [an 

waiting  for  the  reinforcements,  which,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
late  event  on  the  Niagara-  frontier,  would  have  long  ago 
reached  him,  I  have  reason  to  think  they  are  now  on  their 
way  to  him,  and  whtn  arrived,  he  will  probably  again  be  ena- 
bled to  advance  against  major-general  Harrison,  who  remains 
strengthening  himself  in  his  position  at  Fort  Meigs,  where 
he  is  watched  by  a  large  body  of  Indians. 
I  have  the  honour,  &c. 

GEORGE  PREVOST. 
Earl  Bathurst,  &c. 

Sandwich,  May  14. 

Sir,  from  the  circumstances  of  the  war  I  have  judged  it 
expedient  to  make  direct  report  to  your  excellency  of  the 
operations  and  present  state  in  this  district. 

In  expectation  of  being  able  to  reach  the  enemy,  who  had 
taken  post  near  the  foot  of  the  Rapids  of  the  Miami,  before 
the  reinforcement  and  supplies  could  arrive,  for  which  only  he 
waited  to  commence  active  operations  against  us,  I  deter- 
mined to  attack  him  without  delay,  and  with  every  means  in 
my  power;  but  from  the  necessary  preparations,  and  some 
untoward  circumstance,  it  was  not  in  my  power  to  reach  him 
within  three  weeks  of  the  period  I  had  proposed,  and  at 
which  he  might  have  been  captured  or  destroyed. 

From  the  incessant  and  heavy  rains  we  experienced,  and 
during  which  our  batteries  were  constructed,  it  was  not  until 
the  morning  of  the  first  instant,  the  fifth  day  after  our  arrival 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  twelve  miles  from  the  enemy,  that 
our  batteries  could  be  opened. 

The  enemy,  who  occupied  several  acres  of  commanding 
ground,  strongly  defended  by  block-houses,  and  the  batteries 
well  furnished  with  ordnance,  had,  during  our  approach,  so 
completely  entrenched  and  covered  himself,  as  to  render  un- 
availing every  effort  of  our  artillery,  though  well  served,  and 
in  batteries  most  judiciously  placed  and  constructed,  under 
the  able  direction  of  captain  Dixon,  of  the  roval  engineers, 
of  whose  abilitv  and  unwearied  zral,  shown  particularly  on 
this  occasion,  I  cannot  speak  too  highly. 

Though  the  attack  has  not  answered  fully  the  purpose  in- 
tended, I  have  the  satisfaction  to  inform  your  excellency  of 
the  fortunate  result  of  an  attack  of -the  enemv,  aided  by  a 
sally  of  most  of  tin  ir  garrison,  made  on  the  morning  of  the 
5th  instant,  by  a  reinforcement  which  descended  the  river,  a 
considerable  distance  in  a  verv  s^ort  time,  consisting  of  two 
corps,  Dudley's  and  Rosweli's  amounting  to  1300  men,  ur- 


212]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

der  the  command  of  brigadier-general  Green  Clay.  The  at- 
tack was  very  sudden  and  o.n  both  sides  of  the  river.  The 
enemv  were  for  a  few  minutes  in  possession  of  our  batteries 
and  took  some  prisoners.  After  a  severe  contest,  though  not 
of  long  continuance,  the  enemy  gave  way,  and  except  the  body 
of  those  who  sallied  from  the  fort,  must  have  been'  mostly 
killed  or  taken. 

In  this  decisive  affair,  the  officers  and  men  of 'the  41st  regi- 
ment, who  charged  and  routed  the  enemy  near  the  batteries, 
well  maintained  the  long  established  reputation  of  the  corps. 
Where  all  deserve  rjraise,  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish.  Cap- 
tain Muir,  an  old  officer,  who  had  seen  much  service,  had  the 
good  fortune  to  be  in  the  immediate  command  of  these  brave 
men.  Besides  my  obligations  to  captain  Chambers  for  his  un- 
wearied exertions  preparatory  to,  and  on  the  expedition,  as 
deputy-assistant-quarter-master-general,  I  have  to  notice  his 
gallant  conduct  in  attacking  the  enemy  near  the  batteries  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet ;  a  service  in  which, he  was  well  sup- 
ported by  lieutenants  Bullock  and  Clements  of  the  41st,  and 
lieutenant  Le  Breton  of  the  royal  Newfoundland  regiment. 
The  courage  and  activity  displayed  through  the  whole  scene 
of  action  by  the  Indian  chiefs  and  warriors,  contributed 
largely  to  our  success.  1  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain 
the  amount  of  prisoners  in  possession  of  the  Indians.  I 
have  sent  off,  agreeably  to  agreement,  nearly  500  prisoners 
to  the  river  Huron,  near  Sandusky. 

I  have  proposed  an  exchange,  which  is  referred  to  the 
American  government. 

I  could  not  ascertain  the  amount  of  the  enemy's  loss  in 
killed,  from  the  extent  of  the  scene  of  action,  and  mostly  in 
the  woods.  I  conceive  his  loss  in  killed  and  prisoners  to 
have  been  between  1000  and  1200  men.  These  unfortunate 
people  were  not  volunteers,  and  complete  Kentucky's  quota. 
If  the  enemy  had  been  permitted  to  receive  his  supplies  un- 
disturbed, I  should  have  had  at  this  critical  juncture  to  con- 
tend with  him  for  Detroit,  or  perhaps  on  this  shore. 

I  had  not  the  option  of  retaining  my  situation  on  the 
Miamis.  Half  of  the  militia  had  left  us.  I  received  a  de- 
putation from  the  chiefs,  counselling  me  to  return,  as  they 
could  not  prevent  their  people,  as  was  their  custom  after  any 
battle  of  consequence,  returning  to  their  villages  with  their 
wounded,  their  prisoners,  ;ind  plunder,  of  which  they  had 
taken  a  considerable  quantity  in  the  boats  of  the  enemy. 

Before  the  ordnance  could  be  withdrawn  from  the  batte- 
ries, I  was  left  with  Tecumseh,  and  less  than  2O  chiefs  and 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [213 

warriors,  a  circumstance  that  strongly  proves,  that  under 
present  circumstances,  at  least,  our  Indian  force  is  not  a  dis- 
posable one,  or  permanent,  though  occasionally  a  most  pow- 
erful aid.  I  have,  however,  brought  off  all  the  ordnance,  and, 
indeed,  have  not  left  any  thing  behind  ;  part  of  the  ordnance 
was  embarked  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy. 

The  service  on  which  we  were  employed  has  been,  though 
short,  a  very  severe  one ;  and  too  much  praise  cannot  be 
given  to  both  officers  and  men,  for  the  cheerfulness  with 
which,  on  everv  occasion,  they  met  the  service.  To  lieute- 
nant-colonel Warjburton  I  feel  many  obligations  for  the  aid 
he  zealously  afforded  me  on  every  occasion.  From  my  bri- 
gade-major, lieutenant  M'Lean,  I  received  the  same  zealous 
assistance  as  on  former  occasions.  To  captain  Mockler,  roval 
Newfoundland  regiment,  who  acted  as  my  aid-de-camp, 
I  am  much  indebted  for  the  assistance  afforded  me. 

Lieutenant  Le  Breton,  of  the  Newfoundland  regiment,  as- 
sistant engineer,  by  his  unwearied  exertions,  rendered  es- 
sential service,  as  did  lieutenant  Gardner  of  the  41st  regi- 
ment, from  his  science  in  artillery.  The  naval  artillery,  in  the 
laborious  duties  they  performed,  displayed  their  usual  unwea- 
ried zeal,  andwere  well  assisted  by  the  royal  Newfoundland 
(under  lieutenant  Gardner)  as  additional  gunners.  The  la- 
borious duties  which  the  marine,  under  commodore  Hall, 
have  performed,  have  been  most  cheerfully  met,  and  the  most 
essential  service  rendered. 

I  have  the  honour  to  send  an  embarkation  return  of  the 
force  that  served  under  my  command  at  the  Miami,  exclu- 
sive of  the  Indians,  who  may  be  stated  at  twelve  hundred. 

I  also  enclose  a  return  of  our  killed,  wounded,  and  pri- 
soners, who  have,  however,  been  exchanged. 

I  had  taken  upon  me  to  give  the  rank  of  major  to  the  six 
captains  of  the  line,  as  militia  were  employed  on  the  same 
service  with  them ;  some  of  them  are  old  officers  ;  all  of 
them  deserving ;  any  mark  of  your  excellency's  approbation 
of  them  would  be  extremely  grateful  to  me. 

I  beg  leave  to  mention  the  lour  volunteers  of  the  41st  re- 
giment, Wilkinson,  Richardson,  Laing,  and  Proctor,  as  wor- 
thy of  promotion.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

HENRY  PROCTOR, 
Brig.-Gen.  commanding. 

I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  indefatigable  exertions  of  ;he 
commissariat.  HENRY  PROCTOR. 

To  his  Excellency  Lieutenant-General 

Sir  G.  Prevost)  Bart*  8fc. 
vc/I.  i.  PART  n.  [F  f  J 


214]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Embarkation  Return  of  the  Western  Army,  commanded  by  Bri- 
gadier-General Proctor,  on  an  Expedition  to  the  Miamis. 
Amherstburgh,  April  15,  1813. 

General  staff — 1  general,  1  lieutenant-colonel,  1  deputy - 
assistant-quarter-master-general,  1  brigade -major,  1  staff-ad- 
jutant*. 

Royal  artillery — 1  lieutenant,  1  serjeant,  1  surgeon,  27 
rank  and  file. 

Royal  engineers — 1  captain. 

10th  veteran  battalion — 5. 

41st  rt  giment — 3  captains,  7  lieutenants,  1  assistant  sur- 
geon, 22  Serjeants,  6  drummers  and  bugles,  374  rank  and 
file. 

Royal  Newfoundland  regiment — 1  captain,  2  lieutenants, 
3  Serjeants,  2  drummers,  55  rank  and  file. 

Commissariat — 1  deputy  assistant  commissary-general,  1 
assistant  to  do.,  1  issuer. 

Field  train — 1  clerk  of  stores,  1  conductor. 

Militia — 1  major,  12  captains,  11  lieutenants,  8  ensigns, 
1  adjutant,  22  Serjeants,  406  rank  and  file. 

PETER  L.  CHAMBERS,  Major, 
Capt.  41st  Regt.  D.  A.  Quarter- Master-General. 

Return  of  killed,  wounded,  missing,  and  prisoners  of  the  Army 
under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Proctor,  at  the 
Battle  fought  at  the  Miami*,  5th  May,  1813. 
Total — 1  drummer,  13  rank  and  file,  killed;   1  captain,   1 
lieutenant,  4  Serjeants,  41  rank  and  file,  wounded;  2  lieute- 
nants, 1  serjeant,  37  rank  and  file,  prisoners. 

Names  of  Officers  wounded  and  prisoners, 
41st  regiment — lieutenant  Bullock,  wounded  on  the  3d  ul- 
timo ;  lieutenants  M'Intire  and  Hails,  prisoners. 
Militia — captain  Bandy,  since  dead. 

PETER  L.  CHAMBERS,  Major, 
Capt.  4istRegt.  D.  A.  Barter- Master-General. 

Return  of  Officers,  Non-commissioned  Officers,  and  Privates, 

taken  Prisoners  from  the  Enemy  on  the  5th  May,- 181 3,  at 

the  Battle  fought  at  the  Miamis. 

United  States'  regulars — 1  captain,  2!  rank  and  file. 

10th  and  13th  detached  Kentucky  militia — 2  majors,  1 
brigade-inspector,  8  captains,  9  lieutenants,  6  ensigns,  1  ad- 
jutant, 1  paymaster,  1  surgeon,  26  Serjeants,  3  drummers, 
375  rank  and  file. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [215 

Prisoners  since  delivered  up  by  the  Indians. 
1  ensign,  1  assistant  surgeon,  12  rank  and  file  ;  grand  to- 
tal, 467. 

There  are  a  number  of  prisoners  not  yet  come  in,  who  are 
in  possession  of  the  Indians,  but  they  are  bringing  them  in 
daily.  PETER  L.  CHAMBERS,  Major, 

Capt.  4-lst  Regt.  D.  A.  Barter- Master-General. 
May  17. — Since  the  above  return  28  prisoners  have  been 
given  up  by  the  Indians. 

A.  H.  M'LEAN,  B.  M. 


AMERICAN    AND    BRITISH    ACCOUNTS    OF    THE    CAPTURE    OB 

YORK. 

Copies  of  Letters  from  Commodore  Chauncey  to  the  Secretary 

.  of  the  Navy. 
United  States'  Ship  Madison,  at  anchor  off  Tork, 

8  o'clock,  P.  M.,  27th  April,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  inform  you  that  the  Ameri- 
can flag  is  flying  upon  the  fort  at  York.  The  town  capitu- 
lated this  afternoon  at  4  o'clock.  Brigadier-general  Pike 
was  killed. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
Hon.  Wm.  Jones,  Secretanj  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

United  States'  Ship  Madison, 
at  anchor  off  Tork,  28th  April,  1813. 

Sir,  agreeably  to  your  instructions,  and  arrangements  made 
with  major-general  Dearborn,  I  took  on  board  of  the  squa- 
dron under  my  command  the  general  and  suite,  and  about 
1700  troops,  and  left  Sackett's  harbour  on  the  25th  instant, 
for  this  place.  We  arrived  here  yesterday  morning,  and 
took  a  position  about  one  mile  to  the  south  and  westward  of 
the  enemy's  principal  fort,  and  as  near  the  shorv 
with  safety  to  the  vessels.  The  place  fixed  upon  by  the  ma- 
jor-general and  myself  for  landing  the  troops  was  the  scite 
of  the  old  French  fort  Tarento. 

The  debarkation  commenced  at  8  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  was 
completed  about  10.  The  wind  blowing  heavy  from  the 
eastward,  the  boats  fell  to  the  leeward  .of  the  position  fixed 
upon,  and  were  in  consequence  exposed  to  a  galling  fire  from 


216]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

enemy,  who  had  taken  a  position  in  a  thick  wood  near 
where  the  first  troops  lauded  ;  however,  the  cool  intrepidity 
of  the  officers  and  men  overcame  every  obstacle.  Their  at- 
tack upon  the  enemy 'was  so  vigorous,  that  he  fled  in  every 
direction,  leaving  a  great  number  of  his  killed  and  wounded 
upon  the  field.  As  soon  as  the  troops  were  landed,  I  direct- 
ed the  schooners  to  take  a  position 'near  the  forts,  in  order 
that  the  attack  upon  them  by  the  army  and  navy  might  be 
simultaneous.  The-  schooners  were  obliged  to  beat  up  to 
their  position,  which  they  did.  in  a  very  handsome  order, 
un.ler  a  very  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries^  and  took 
a  position  within  about  six  hundred  yards  of  their  principal 
fort,  and  opened  a  heavy  cannonade  upon  the  enemy,'  which 
did  great  execution,  and  very  much  contributed  to  their  final 
destruction.  The  troops  as  soon  as  landed  were  formed  un- 
der the  immediate  command  of  brigadier-general  Pike,  who 
led  in  a  most  gallant  manner  the  "attack  upon  the  forts,  and 
after  having  carried  two  redoubts,  in  their  approach  to  the 
principal  works,  the  enemy  (having  previously  laid  a  train) 
blew  up  his  magazine,  when  its  effects  upon  our 'troops  was 
dreadful,  'having  killed  and  wounded  a  great  ir.any,  and 
amongst  the  former  the  ever  to  be  lamented  brigadier-gene- 
ral Pike,  who  fell  at  the  head  of  his  column  by  a  contusion 
received  by  a  heavy  stone  from  the  magazine.  His  death  at 
this  time  is  much  to  be  regretted,  as  he  had  the  perfect  con- 
fidence of  the  major-general ;  and  his  known  activity,  zeal 
and  experience,  make  his  loss  a  national  one. 

In  consequence  of  the  fall  of  general  Pike,  the  command 
of  the  troops  devolved,  for  a  time,  upon  colonel  Pierce,  who 
soon  after  took  possession  of  the  town.  At  about  2,  P.  M., 
the  American  flag  was  substituted  for  the  British,  and  at 
about  4,  our  troops  were  in  quiet  possession  of  the  town.  As' 
soon  as  general  Dearborn  learnt  the  situation  of  general  Pike, 
he  landed  and  assumed  the  command.  I  have  the  honour  of 
enclosing  a  copy  of  the  capitulation  which  was  entered  into 
and  approved  by  general  Dearborn  and  myself. 

The  enemy  set  fire  to  some  of  his  principal  stores,  con- 
taining large  quantities  of  naval  and  military  stores,  as  well 
as  a  large  ship  upon  the  stocks  nearly  finished.  The  only 
vessel  found  here  is  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  undergoing  re- 
pairs. The  Prince  Regent  left  here  on  the  24th  for  Kings- 
ton. We  have  not  yet  had  a  return  made  of  the  naval  and 
military  stores,  consequently  can  form  no  correct  iden  of  the 
quantity,  but  have  mii'Je  r.rnmgemrnir.  to  have  all  tnken  on 
board  that  we  can  receive,  the  rest  \viil  be  destroyed. 


B 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [2ir 

I  have  to  regret  the  death  of  midshipmen  Thompson  and 
tfield,   and  several  seamen  killed — the  exact  number  I  do 
know,  as  the  return's  from  the  different  vessels  have  not 
been  received.  .    . 

For  the  judicious  arrangements  made   by  general  Dear- 
born, I  presume^  that  the  public  stores  will  be  disposed  of,  so 
that  the  troops  will  be  ready  to  re-embark  to-morrow,   and 
roceed  to  execute  other  objects  of  the  expedition  the    first 
ir  wind. 

I  cannot  speak  in  too  much  praise  of  the  cool  intrepidity 
of  the  officers  and  men  generally  under  my  command,  and  I 
feel  myself  particularly  indebted  to  the  officers  commanding- 
vessels  for  their  zeal  in  seconding  all  my  views. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

.ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
n.  Wm.  "Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navif,  Washington. 

'erms  of  Capitulation  entered  into  on  the  "2.7th  April,  1813,  for 
the  Surrender  of  the  Torvn  of  Tor k^  in  Upper  Canada,  to  the 
Army  and  Navy  -of  the  United  States,  under  the' command  of 
Major-General  Dearborn  and  Commodore  Chauncey. 
That  the  troops,  regulars  and  militia,  at  this  post,  and  the 
naval  officers  and  seamen,  shall  be  surrendered  prisoners  of 
war.     The    troops,   regulars   and    militia,   to    ground   their 
arms  immediately  on  parade,  and  the  naval  officers  and  sea- 
men be  immediately  surrendered. 

That  all  public  stores,  naval  and  military,  shall  be  immedi- 
ely  given  up  to  the  conypanding  officers  of  the  army  and 
.vv  of  the  United  States — that  all  private  property  shall  be 
aranteed  to  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  York. 
That  all  papers  belonging  to  the  civil   officers  shall  be  re- 
tained by  them — that  such- surgeons  as  may   be  procured  to 
attend  the  wounded   of  the    British  regulars  and  Canadian 
militia  shall  not  be  considered  prisoners  of  war. 

That  one  lieutenant-colonel,  one  major,  13  captains,  nine 
lieutenants,  11  ensigns,  one  quarter-master,  one  deputy-adju- 
tant-general of  the  militi •-»,  namely — 

Lieutenant-colonel  Chewitt,  major  Allen,  captains  John 
Wilson,  John  Button,  Peter  Robinson,  Reuben  Richardson, 
John  Arnold,  James  Feruvick,  James  Musturd,  Duncan  Ca- 
meron, David  Thomson,  John  Robinson,  Samuel  Ridout, 
Thomas  ii  imilcoh,  Job:!  Barn,  William  JnrvK-,  quarter-mas- 
ter Charles  Bayne's,  lieutenants  John  H.  Shultz,  George  Mus- 


218]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

turd,  Barnet  Vanderburch,  Robert  Stanton,  George  Ridout, 
William  Jarvis,  Edward  M'Mahon,  John  Wilson,  Ely  Play- 
ter,  ensigns  Andrew  Thompson,  Alfred  Senally,  Donald 
M'Arthur,  William  t^mith,  Andrew  Mercer,  James  Chew- 
ett,  George  Kink,  Edward  Thompson,  Charles  Denison, 
George  Robison,  Darcey  Bonlton. 

Nineteen  Serjeants,  four  corporals,  and  two  hundred  and 
four  rank  and  file. 

One  of  the  field  train  department,  William  Dunbar. 
Of  the  provincial  navy,  captain  Francis  Govere^aux. 
Midshipmen,  John  Ridou,  Louis  Baupre. 
Lieutenant  Green — Clerk,  James  Langsdon. 
Of  his  majesty's  regular  troops,  lieutenant  De   Koven-— 
one  serjeant-major — and  of  the  royal  marines,  one  bombar- 
dier and  three  gunners,  shall  be  surrendered  as  prisoners  of 
war,  and  accounted  for  in  the  exchange  of  prisoners  between 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain. 

(Signed)  G.  S.  MITCHELL, 

Lieut. -Col  3d  A.  U.  S. 
SAMUEL  S.  CONNER, 
Maj.  and  A.  D.  C.  to  Maj.-Gen.  Dearborn. 
WILLIAM  KING, 

Major  \5th  U.  S.  Infantry. 
JESSE  D.  ELLIOT, 

Lieutenant  U.  S.  Navy. 
W.  CHE  WITT, 

Lieut.-CoL  commanding  3d  Regt.  Tork  Militia. 
W.  ALLAN, 

Major  3d  JRe^t.  Tork  Militia. 
F.  GAURREAU, 

Lieutenant  M,  Dpt. 

Copies  of  Letters  from  Major-General  Dearborn  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  dated 
Head- Quarters,  Tork,  Capital  of  Upper  Canada, 

April  27,  1813 — 8  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Sir,  we  are  in  possession  of  this  place,  after  a   sharp  con- 
flict, in  which  we  lost  some  brave  officers  and  soldiers. 

General  Slu-affe  commanded  the  British  troops,  militia,  and 
Indians,  in  person. 

We  shall  be  prepared  to  sail  for  the  next. object  of  the  ex- 
pedition the  first  favourable  wind. 

I  have  to  lament  the  loss  of  the  brave  and  active  brigadier- 
general  Pike. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [219 

I  am,  with  the  highest  respect  and  consideration,  sir,  your 
most  obedient  humble  servant, 

H.  DEARBORN. 
The  Hon.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  War,  Washington. 


Head-Quarters,  Tork,  Capital  of  Upfter  Canada, 

April  28th,  1813. 

Sir,  after  a  detention  of  some  days  by  adverse  winds,  we 
arrived  at  this  place  yesterday  morning,  and  at  8  o'clock 
commenced  landing  the  troops,  about  three  miles  westward 
from  the  town,  and  one  and  a  half  from  the  enemy's  works. 
The  wind  was  high,  and  in  an  unfavourable  direction  for  the 
boats,  which  prevented  the  landing  of  the  troops  at  a  clear 
field,  the  scite  of  the  ancient  French  fort  Tarento.  It  pre- 
vented also,  many  of  the  armed  vessels  from  taking  positions, 
which  would  have  most  effectually  covered  our  landing — 
but  everv  thing  that  could  be  done  was  effected. 

The  riflemen  under  major  Forsyth  first  landed,  under  a 
heavy  fire  from  Indians  and  other  troops.  General  Sheaffe 
commanded  in  person.  He  had  collected  his  whole  force  in 
the  woods  near  the  point  where  the  wind  compelled  our 
troops  to  land.  His  force  consisted  of  700  regulars  and  mi- 
litia, and  10O  Indians.  Major  Forsyth  was  supported  as 
promptly  as  possible  ;  but  the  contest  was  sharp  and  severe 
for  nearly  half  an  hour,  and  the  enemy  was  repulsed  by  a 

Kmber  far  inferior  to  theirs.  As  soon  as  general  Pike  land- 
with  7  or  800  men,  and  the  remainder  of  the  troops  were 
shing  for  the  shore,  the  enemy  retreated  to  their  works, 
ar  troops  were  now  formed  on  the  ground  originally  in- 
tended for  their  landing,  advanced  through  a  thick  wood,  and 
after  earn  ing  one  battery  by  assault,  were  moving  in  columns 
towards  the  main  work  ;  when  within  sixty  rods  of  this,  a 
tremendous  explosion  took  place  from  a  magazine  previously 
prepared,  and  which  threw  out  such  immense  quantities  of 
stones  as  most  seriously  to  injure  our  troops — I  have  not  yet 
been  able  to  collect  the  returns  of  the  killed  and  wounded ; 
but  our  loss  will  I  fear  exceed  100;  and  among  these  I  h:=ve 
to  lament  the  loss  of  that  brave  and  excellent  officer  briga- 
dier-general Pike,  who  received  a  contusion  from  a  large 
stone,  which  terminated  his  valuable  life  within  a  few  hours. 
His  loss  will  be  severely  felt. 

Previously  to  this  explosion  the  enemy  had   retired  into 
e  town,  excepting  a  party  of  regulars,  to  the  number  of  40, 
who  did  not  escape  the  effects  of  the   shock,  and  were  cle- 
stroved. 


220]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

General  SheafFe  moved  oflf  with  the  regular  troops,  and 
left  directions  with  the  comnvmding  officer  of  the  militia  to 
make  the  best  terms  he  could.  In  the  mean  time  all  further 
resistance  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  ceased,  and  the  outlines 
of  a  capitulation  were  agreed  on. 

As  soon  as  I  learned  that  general  Pike  had  been  wound- 
ed, I  went  on  shore.  To  the  general  I  had  been  induced  to 
:onfide  the  immediate  attack,  from  a  knowledge  that  it  was 
his  wish,  and  that  he  would  have  felt  mortified  had  it  not 
been  given  to  him. 

Even-  movement  was  under  my  view.  The  'troops  be- 
'laved  wiMi  great  firmness,  and  deserve  much  applause,  par- 
.icularly  those  first  engaged,  and  under  circumstances  which 
vould  have  tried  the  steadiness  of  veterans. 

Our  loss  in  the  morning,  and  in  carrying  the  first  battery, 
•vas  not  great,  perhaps  40  or  50  killed  and  wounded,  and  of 
'.hem  a  full  proportion  of  officers. 

Notwithstanding  the  enemy's  advantage  in  position  and 
Cumbers  in  the  commencement  of  the  action,  their  loss  was 
greater  than  ours,  especially  in  officers.  It  was  with  great 
exertion  that  the  small  vessels  of  the  fleet  could  work  into 
the  harbour  against  a  gale  of  wind,  but  as  soon  as  they  got 
into  a  proper  position,  a  tremendous  cannonade  opened  upon 
the  enemy's  batteries,  and  was  kept  up  against  them,  until 
they  were  carried  or  blown  up,  and  had,  no  doubt,  a  power- 
ful effect  upon  the  enemy. 

I  am  under  the  greatest  obligations  to  commodore  Chaun- 
cey  for  his  able  and  indefatigable  exertions  in  tvery  possible 
manner  which  could  give  facility  and  effect  to  the  expedition. 
He  is  equally  estimable  for  sound  judgment,  bravery,  and  in- 
dustry. The  government  could  not  have  made  a  more  fortu- 
nate selection. 

Unfortunately  mv's  armed  ship  Prince  Regent,  left 

this  place  for  Kingston,  a  few  days  before  we  arrived.  A 
large  ship  on  the  stocks  and  nearlv  planked  up,  and  much  na- 
v;d  stores,  were  set  fire  to  by  the  enemy  soon  after  the  explo- 
;  of  the  magazine.  A  considerable  quantity  of  military 
stores  and  provisions  remain,  but  no  vessels  fit  for  use. 

We  have  not  the  means  of  transporting  the  prisoners,  and. 
must  of  course  leave  them  on  parole. 

I  hope  we  shall  so  far  complete  what  is  necessary  to  be 
done  here,  as  to  be  able  to  sail  to-morrow  for  Niagara,  whi- 
ther I  send  this  by  a  small  vessel,  with  notice  to  general 
Lev/is  of  our  approach.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir, 

HENRY  DEARBORN. 
'?;-,  Was!. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [221 

Extract-ofa  Letter  from  Major-General  Dearborn  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  dated 

Niagara,  May  8. 

"  As  nearly  as  I  hUvebeen  able  to  ascertain,  the  loss  of  the 
enemy,  in  the  late  affair  of  York,  amoun  ed  to  100  kil"eJ, 
200  prisoners,  and  300  wounded.  I  have  not  been  ablt  to 
ascertain  precisely  the  amount  of  the  militia  put  on  their  pa- 
role— I  presume  it  could  not  be  less  than  500.  There  was 
an  immense  depot  of  naval  and  military  stores.  York  was 
a  magazine  for  Niagara,  Detroit,  &c.  and  notwithstanding  the 
immense  amount  which  was  destroyed  by  them,  we  found 
more  than  we  could  bring  off.  General  Sheaffe's  baggage 
and  papers  fell  into  my  hands  ;  the  papers  are  a  valuable  ac- 
quisition. A  scalp  was  found  in  the  executive  and  legisla- 
tive council  chamber,  suspended  near  the  speaker's  chair,  in 
company  with  the  mace,  Sec." 

United  States'  Ship  Madison,  Sachet?  s  Harbour, 

4th  June,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  present  to  you  by  the  hands  of 
lieutenant  Dudley,  the  British  standard,  taken  at  York  on  the 
27th  of  April  last,  accompanied  by  the  mace,  over  which  was 
hung  a  htiman  scalp.  These  articles  were  taken  from  the 
parliament  house  by  one  of  my  officers  and  presented  to  me. 
The  scalp  I  caused  to  be  presented  to  general  Dearborn,  who, 
I  believe,  still  has  it  in  his  possession.  I  also  send,  by  the 
same  gentleman,  one  of  the  flags  taken  at  Fort  George  on  the 
27th  of  May. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servant, 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
Hon.  Win.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

From  the  London  Gazrtic. 
Head-quarters,  Kingston,  Upper  Canada, 

May  18,  1813. 

My  lord,  I  have  the  honour  of  transmitting  to  your  lord- 
ship a  copy  of  a  de  spatch,  which  I  have  received  from  m  jor- 
general  sir  R.  Sheaffe,  containing  \\v<-  particulars  ot  an  attack 
made  by  the  land  forces,  and  tru-  f;  ,  nemy,  upon. 

York,  iv.  U;  j    r  Canada,  on  th.    27>h  uMmo. 

The  enemy  1  -/t  York  on  the  8:h  instant,  and  proce;  d>  d  to 
Niagara,  where  I  understood  ihey  landed,  on  <hc  Am-  ri  ,n 
side  of  the  lake,  120  ,  for  the 


2X2]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER? 

bly  with  a  view  to  make  a  further  attempt  on  Fort  Erie  or 
Fort  George.  The  flotilla  afterwards  returned  to  Sackett's 
Harbour,  where  I  find,  from  a  flag  of  truce  which  came  over 
the  day  before  yesterday,  they  remained  on  the  14th. 

From  the  information  I  have  received  from  an  officer  of 
the  Ink-  m.irmes  t;i!c.:>i  i.  Y  >rk,  and  sent  over  in  the  flag  of 
truce,  I  find  the  enemy's  force  at  Sackett's  Harbour  amounts 
to  near  50OO  men,  and  that  they  were  making  preparations 
for  another  expedition,  but  to  what  point  the  attack  was  to 
be  directed,  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEORGE  PREVOST. 
Earl  Bathurst,  &V. 

Kingston,  May  5,  1813. 

Sir,  I  did  myself  the  honour  of  writing  to  your  excellency, 
on  my  route  from  York,  to  communicate  the  mortifying  in- 
telligence that  the  enemy  had  obtained  possession  of  that  place 
on  the  27th  of  April.  I  shall  now  give  your  excellency  a 
further  detail  of  that  event. 

In  the  evening  of  the  26th,  information  was  received  that 
many  vessels  were  seen  to  the  eastward.  Very  early  the 
next  morning  they  were  discovered  lying  to,  not  far  from 
that  harbour ;  after  some  time  had  elapsed  they  made  sail, 
and,  to  the  number  of  10  of  various  descriptions,  anchored 
off  the  shore  some  distance  to  the  westward.  Boats  full  of 
troops  were  immediately  seen  assembling  near  their  commo- 
dore's ship,  under  cover  of  whose  fire,  and  that  of  other 
vessels,  and  aided  by  the  wind,  they  soon  effected  a  landing, 
in  spite  of  a  spirited  opposition  from  major  Givers  and  about 
40  Indians.  A  company  of  Glengary  light  infantry,  which 
had  been  ordered  to  support  them,  was,  by  some  mistake 
(not  in  the  smallest  degree  imputable  to  its  commander),  led 
in  another  direction,  and  came  late  into  action.  The  other 
troops,  consisting  of  two  companies  of  the  8th  or  king's  re- 
giment, and  about  a  company  of  the  royal  Newfoundland 
regiment,  with  some  militia,  encountered  the  enemy  in  a 
thick  wood.  Captain  M'Neal,  of  the  king's  regiment,  was 
killed  while  gallantly  leading  his  company,  which  suffered 
severely.  The  troops  at  length  fell  back  ;  they  rallied  seve- 
ral times,  but  could  not  maintain  the  contest  against  the 
greatly  superior  and  increasing  numbers  of  the  enemy.  They 
retired  under  cover  of  our  batteri  s,  which  were  engaged 
with  some  of  the  enemy's  vessels  that  had  moved  higher  in 
the  harbour.  By  some  unfortunate  accident  the  magazine 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [223 

western  battery  blew  up,  and  killed  and  wounded  a 
considerable  number  of  men,  and  crippled  the  battery. 

It  became  too  evident  that  our  numbers  and  means  of  de- 
fence were  inadequate  to  the  task  of  maintaining  possession 
of  York  against  the  vast  superiority  of  force  brought  against 
it.  The  troops  were  withdrawn  towards  the  town,  and  were 
finally  ordered  to  retreat  on  the  road  to  Kingston:  the  pow- 
der magazine  was  blown  up,  and  the  new  ship  and  naval 
stores  destroyed.  Lieutenant-colonel  Chervett  and  major 
Allan,  of  the  militia,  residents  in  the  town,  were  instructed 
to  treat  with  the  American  commanders  for  terms  :  a  state- 
ment of  those  agreed  on  with  major-general  Dearborn  and 
commodore  Chauncey,  is  transmitted  to  your  excellency, 
with  returns  of  the  killed,  wounded,  &c.  The  accounts  of 
the  number  of  the  enemy  vary  from  1800  to  3400.  We  had 
about  600,  including  militia  and  dock-yard  men.  The  qua- 
lity of  these  troops  was  of  so  superior  a  description,  and  their 
general  disposition  so  good,  that  under  less  unfavourable  cir- 
cumstances, I  should  have  felt  confident  of  success,  in  spite 
of  the  disparity  of  numbers.  As  it  was,  the  contest,  which 
commenced  between  6  and  7  o'clock,  was  maintained  nearly 
eight  hours. 

When  we  had  proceeded  some  miles  from  York,  we  met 
the  light  company  of  the  king's  regiment,  on  its  route  for 
Fort  George ;  it  retired  with  us,  and  covered  the  retreat, 
which  was  effected  without  molestation  from  the  enemy. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

R.  H.  SHEAFFE,  Major -General. 
Excellency  Sir  George  Prevent,  £s?c. 

Return  of  killed,  wounded,  prisoners,  and  missing,  of  the  troops 

engaged  at   Tork,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Roger   Hall 

Sheajfc,  on  the  27th  of  April. 

Killed — 1  captain,  1  serjeant-major,  4  Serjeants,  1  drum- 
mer, 52  rank  and  file,  3  gunners. 

Wounded- — 1  ensign,  2  Serjeants,  1  drummer,  30  rank  and 
file. 

Wounded  and  prisoners — 1  lieutenant,  4  Serjeants,  1   drum- 
mer, 36  rank  and  file,  1  driver,  1  bombardier,  3  gunners. 
,      Missi  g—6  rank  and  file,  1  gunner. 

Names  of  Officers  killed  and  wounded. 

Killed — 8  h,  or  king's  regiment,  captain  Neal  Mac  Neal, 
volunteer  ;  D.  Mac  Lean,  clerk  of  the  house  of  assembly. 

Wounded — royal  Newfoundland  regimen:,  lieutenant  D. 
Goven,  prisoner  ;  Glengary  light  infantr> ,  ensign  Robins, 


224] 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 


slightly ;    general    staff — raptain    Loring,    104th    regiment 
slightly  ;  incorporated  militia,  captain  Jarvis  ;  volunteer,  — 
Hartney,  barrack  master. 

(Signed)  RICHARD  LEONARD, 

Acting  Deputy  Assistant  Adjutant- General, 

EDWARD  BAYNES, 
Adjutant-General,  North  America. 

By  the  terms  of  the  capitulation,  the  troops,  regulars  am 
militia,  at  this  post,  and  the  naval  officers  and  seamen,  shal 
be   surrendered  prisoners  of  war ;  the  troops,  regulars  am 
militia,  to  ground  their  arms  immediately  on  the  parade,  and 
the  naval  officers  and  seamen  be  immediately  surrendered  on 
the  parade. 


CAPTURE  OF  FORT  GEORGE. 

Copies  of  Letters  from  Commodore  Chauncey  to  the  Secretary  of 

the  Navy. 
United  Stated  Ship  Madison,  Niagara  River, 

27th  May,  1813. 

Sir,  I  am  happy  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  say,  that  the 
American  flag  is  flying  upon  Fort  George.  We  were  in  quiet 
possession  of  all  the  forts  at  12  o'clock. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
Hon.  Win.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

United  States*  Ship  Madison,  Niagara  River, 

28M  J/ff;/,  18 13. 

Sir,  agreeably  to  arrangements  which  I  have  already  Ivul 
the  honour  of  detailing  to  you,  I  left  Sackett's  Harbour  with 
this  ship  on  the  22d  instant,  wish  about  350  of  colonel 
M'Comb".i  regiment  on  board —  ht  wind  being  light  'from 
the  westward,  I  did  not  arrive  in  the  vicinity  of  Niagara 
before  the  25th,  the  other  parts  of  the  squadron  had  arrived 
several  days  before,  and  landed  thrir  troops.  The  Fair 
Anu-tican  and  Pert  I  had  ordered  to  Sackttt's  Harbour,  for 
the  purpose  of  watching  the  enemy's  movements  at  King- 
ston. I  immediately  had  an  interview  with  general  Dear- 
born for  the  purpose  of  making  arrang*  ments  to  attack  the 
enemy  as  soon  as  possible,  and  it  was  agreed  between  him 
and  myself  to  make  the  attack  the  moment  that  the  weather" 
was  such  as  to  allow  the  vessels  and  boats  to  approach  the 
shore  with  safety. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [225 

On  the  26th,  I  reconnoitred  the  position  for  landing  the 
troops,  and  at  night  sounded  the  shore,  and  placed  buoys  to 
sound  out  the  stations  for  the  small  vessels.  It  was  agreed 
between  the  general  and  myself  to  make  the  attack  the  next 
morning  (as  the  weather  had  moderated,  and  had  every  ap- 
pearance of  being  favourable).  I  -took  on  board  of  the  Madi- 
son, Oneida,  and  Lady  of  the  Lake,  all  the  heavy  artillery 
and  as  many  troops  as  could  be  stowed.  The  remainder 
were  to  embark  in  boats  and  to  follow  the  fleet — at  three  yes- 
terday morning  the  signal  was  made  for  the  fleet  to  weigh, 
and  the  troops  were  all  embarked  on  board  the  boats  before 
four,  and  soon  after  generals  Dearborn  and  Lewis  came  on 
board  this  ship,  with  their  suites.  It  being  however  nearly 
calm,  the  schooners  were  obliged  to  sweep  into  their  positions. 
Mr.  Trent  in  the  Julia,  and  Mr.  Mix  in  the  Growler,  I  di- 
rected to  take  a  position  in  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  to  si- 
lence a  battery  near  the  light-house,  which  from  its  position 
commanded  the  shore  where  our  troops  were  to  land.  Mr. 
Stevens  in  the  Ontario,  was  directed  to  take  a  position  to  the 
north  of  the  light-house,  so  near  in  shore  as  to  enfilade  the 
batten*  and  cross  the  fire  of  the  Julia  and  Growler.  Lieute- 
nant Brown  in  the  Governor  Tompkins,  I  directed  to  take  a 
position  near  the  Two  Mile  Creek,  where  the  enemy  had  a 
battery,  with  a  heavy  gun.  Lieutenant  Pettigrew  in  the 
Conquest,  was  directed  to  anchor  to  the  S.  E.  of  the  same 
battery,  so  near  in  as  to  open  on  it  in  the  rear,  and  cress  the 
fire  of  the  Governor  Tpmpkins.  Lieutenant  M'Pherson  in 
the  Hamilton,  lieutenant  Smirh  in  the  Asp,  and  Mr.  Osgood 
in  the  Scourge,  were  directed  to  anchor  close  to  the  shore, 
and  cover  the  landing  of  the  troops,  and  to  scour  the  woods 
and  plain  whenever  the  enemy  made  his  appearance. 

All  these  orders  were  most  promptly  and  gallantly  execu- 
ted. All  the  vessels  anchored  within  musket  shot  of  the 
shore,  and  in  ten  minutes  after  they  opened  upon  the  batte- 
ries, ,they  were  completely  silenced  and  abandoned.  Our 
troops  then  advanced  in  three  brigades,  the  advance  led  by 
colonel  Scott,  and  landed  near  the  fort,  which  had  been  si- 
lenced by  lieutenant  Brown.  The  enemy,  who  had  been 
concealed  in  a  ravine,  now  advanced  in  great  force  to  the 
edge  of  th'-j  hank  to  charge  our  troops,  -  The  schooners 
opened  so  well  directed  and  tremendous  a. fire  of  grape  and 
cannister,  that  the  enemy  soon  retreated  from  the  bank.  Our 
troops  formed  as  soon  as  they  landed,  and  immediately  as- 
cended th;  bank  and  charged  and  routed  the  enemy  in  every 
direction,  the  schooners  keeping  up  a  constant  well  directed 


226]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

fire  upon  him,  in  his  retreat  towards  the  town.  Owing  to 
the  wind's  having  sprung  up  very  fresh  from  the  eastward, 
which  caused  a  heavy  sea  directly  on  shore,  I  was  not  able  to 
get  the  boats  off  to  land  the  troops  from  the  Madison  and 
Oneida,  before  the  first  and  second  brigades  had  advanced. 
Captain  Smith  with  the  marines,  landed  with  colonel 
M'Comb's  regiment,  and  I  Kad  prepared  400  seamen,  which 
I  intended  to  land  with  myself,  if  the  enemy  had  made  a 
stand;  but  our  troops  pursued  him  so  rapidly  into  the  town 
and  Fort  George,-  that  I  found  there  was  no  necessity  for 
more  force ;  moreover  the  wind  had  increased  so  much  and 
hove  such  a  sea  on  shore,  that  the  situation  of  the  fleet  had 
become  dangerous  and  critical.  I,  therefore,  made  the  sig- 
nal for  the  fleet  to  weigh,  and  ordered  them  into  the  river, 
where  they  anchored  immediately  after  the  enemy  had  aban- 
doned Fort  George.  The  town  and  forts  were  in  quiet  pos- 
session of  our.  troops  at  12  o'clock,  and  the  enemy  retreated 
in  a  direction  towards  Queenstown. 

Where  all  behaved  so  well,  it  is  difficult  to  select  any  one 
for  commendation,  yet  in  doing  justice  to  lieutenant  Mac- 
pherson,  I  do  not  detract  from  the  merits  of  others.  He 
was  fortunate  in  placing  himself  in  a  situation  where  he  ren- 
dered very  important  service  in  covering  the  troops  ^o  com- 
pletely, that  their  loss  was  trifling. 

Captain  Perry  joined  me  from  Erie  on  the  evening  of  the 
25th,  and  very  gallantly  volunteered  his  services,  and  I  have 
much  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  great  assistance  which  I 
received  from  him,  in  arranging  and  superintending  the  de- 
barkation of  the  troops  ;  he  was  present  at  every  point  where 
he  could  be  useful,  under  showers  of  musketry,  but  fortu- 
nately escaped  unhurt.  We  lost  but  one  killed  and  two 
wounded,  and  no  injury  done  to  the  vessels. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
Hon.  Wm.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

United  States'  Ship  Madison,  Niagara  River* 

May  29,  1813- 

Sir,  deeming  the  command  of  Lake  Erie  of  primary  im- 
portance, I  despatched  captain  Perry  yesterday,  with  55  sea- 
men to  Black  Rock,  to  take  the  five  vessels  there  to  Erie  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  to  prepare  the  whole  squadron  for  ser- 
vice by  the  15th  of  June.  General  Dearborn  has  promised 
me  200  soldiers  to  put  on  board  the  vessels  at  Black  Rock, 
to  assist  in  protecting  them  to  Erie.  Mr.  Eckford  has  with 


r 
OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [227 

uncommon  exertions  prepared  these  vessels  for  service  since 
the  capture  of  York,  and  I  think  that  captain  Perry  will  be 
ready  to  proceed  for  Presque  Isle  about  the  3d  or  4th  of 
June.  The  two  brigs  building  at  Erie  have  been  launched. 

The  Queen  Charlotte  and  three  others  of  the  enemy's 
vessels  came  down  to  Fort  Erie  on  the  26th  instant,  but  as 
soon  as  they  heard  of  the  capture  of  Fort  George  and  its 
dependencies,  they  proceeded  up  the  lake,  I  presume  for 
Maiden. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
Hon.  Wm.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

Copies  cf  Letters  from  Major-General  Henry  Dearborn  to  the 

Secretary  of  War. 
Head-quarters,  Fort  George,  Upper  Canada, 

May  27,  1813. 

Sir,  the  light  troops  under  the  command  of  colonel  Scott 
and  major  Forsyth,  landed  this  morning  at  nine  o'clock. 
Major-general  Lewis's  division,  with  colonel  Portei~'s  com- 
mand of  light  artillery,  supported  them.  General  Boyd's 
brigade  landed  immediately  after  the  light  troops,  and  gene- 
rals Winder  and  Chandler  followed  in  quick  succession.  The 
landing  was  warmly  and  obstinately  disputed  by  the  British 
forces :  but  the  coolness  and  intrepidity  of  our  troops  soon 
compelled  them  to  give  ground  in  every  direction.  General 
Chandler,  with  the  reserve  (composed  of  his  brigade  and 
colonel  Macomb's  artillery),  covered  the  whole.  Commodore 
Chauncey  had  made  the  most  judicious  arrangements  for  si- 
lencing the  enemy's  batteries,  near  the  point  of  landing.  The 
army  is  under  the  greatest  obligations  to  that  able  naval  com- 
mander for  his  co-operation  in  all  its  important  movements, 
and  especially  in  its  operations  this  day.  Our  batteries 
succeeded  in  rendering  Fort  George  untenable ;  and  when 
the  enemy  had  been  beaten  from  his  positions,  and  found  it 
necessary  to  re-enter  it,  after  firing  a  few  guns  and  setting 
fire  to  the  magazines,  which  soon  exploded,  he  moved  off 
rapidly  by  different  routes.  Our  light  troops  pursued  them 
several  miles.  The  troops  having  been  under  armsfrom  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  were  too  much  exhausted  for  any 
further  pursuit.  We  are  now  in  possession  of  Fort  George 
and  its  immediate  dependencies ;  to-morrow  we  shall  pro- 
ceed further  on.  The  behaviour  of  our  troops,  both  officers 
and  men,  entitles  them  to  the  higest  praise  ;  and  the  differ- 


228]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

ence  in  our  loss  with  that  of  the  enemy,  wh<  n  we  consider 
the  advantages  his  positions  afforded  him,  is  astonishing. 
We  had  17  killed  and  45  wounded.  The  enenv  had  90 
killed  and  160  wound jd  of  the  regular  troops.  W  have- 
taken  1OO  prisoners,  exclusive  of  the  wounded.  Colonel 
Meyers  of  the  49th  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  .Of 
ours  only  one  commissioned  officer  was  killed — lieutenant 
Hobart  of  the  light  artillery.  (Enclosed  is  the  report  of  ma- 
jor-general Lewis. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  with  great  consideration  and 
respect,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

H.   DEARBORN. 
Hon.  Gen.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  at  War. 

Oh  the  Field,  1  o'clock,  "2.7th  Matt,  1813. 

Dear  sir,  Fort  George  and  it's  dependencies  are  ours.  The 
enemy,  beaten  at  all  points,  has  blown  up  his  magazine  and 
retired.  It  is  impossible  at  this  moment  to  say  any  thing  of 
individual  gallantry — there  was  no  man  who  did  not  perform 
his  duty,  in  a  manner  which  did  honour  to  himself  and  coun- 
try. Scott's  and  Forsyth's  commands,  supported  by  Boyd's 
and  Winder's  brigades,  sustained- the  brunt  of  the  action. 
Our  loss  is  trifling,  perhaps  not  more  than  20  killed,  and 
twice  that  number  wounded.  The  enemy  has  left  in  the 
hospital  154,  and  I  sent  several  on  board  the  fleet.  We  have 
also  made  about  100  prisoners  of  the  regular  forces. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

MORGAN  LEWIS. 
Major-General  Dearborn,  Com.  in  Chief  of  the  N.  Army. 

Head- Barters,  Fort  George,  May  29,  1813. 
Sir,  general  Lewis  was  ordered  to  march  yesterday  mor  i- 
ing  with  Chandler's  and  Winder's  brigades — the  light  artil- 
lery, dragoons,  and  riflemen,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  by  the 
way  of  Queenstown.  I  had  received  satisfactory  informa- 
tion that  the  enemy  had  made  a  stand  on  the  mountain  at  a 
place  called  Beaver  Dam,  where  he  had  a  deposit  of  provisions 
and  stores,  and  that  he  had  been  joined  by  300  regulars  from, 
Kingston,  landed  from  small  vessels  near  thrhead  of  the  lake. 
I  had  ascertained  that  he  was  calling  in  the  militb,  and  had 
presumed  that  he  would  confide  in  the  strength  of  his  posi- 
tion and  venture  an  action,  '>y  which  an  opportunit-  uould 
be  afforded  to  cut  off  '  : 

tl1  •  • 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [229 

cipi lately,  continued  his  route  along  the  mountains,  and  will 
reach  the  head  of  the  lake  by  that  route. 

Lieutenant-colonel  Preston  took  possession  of  Fort  Erie 
and  its  dependencies  last  evening ;  the  post  had  been  aban- 
doned and  the  magazine  blown  up. 

I  have  ordered  general  Lewis  to  return  without  delay  to 
this  place,  and  if  the  winds 'favour  us  we  may  yet  cut  off  the 
enemy's  retreat. 

I  was  last  evening  honoured  with  your  despatch  of  the  15th 
instant.  I  have  taken  measures  in  relation  to  the  23  pri- 
soners who  are  to  be  put  in  close  confinement. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.  &c. 

H.  DEARBORN. 
Hon.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  War. 

Head-quarters^  8th  June,  1813. 

Sir,  I  hasten  to  state  to  you,  that  the  whole  of  our  officers 
and  men  discovered,  in  the  action  of  the  27th  ultimo,  that 
readiness  and  ardour  for  action  which  evinced  a  determina- 
tion to  do  honour  to  themselves  and  their  country.  The  ani- 
mating examples  set  by  colonel  Scott  and  by  general  Boyd 
deserve  particular  mention.  I  am  greatly  indebted  to  colo- 
nel Porter  of  the  light  artillery,  to  major  Armistead  of  the 
third  regiment  of  artillery,  and  to  lieutenant  Totten  of  the 
engineer  corps,  for  their  judicious  and  skilful  execution  in 
demolishing  the  enemy's  fort  and  batteries."  The  officers  of 
the  artillery  generally,  who  had  the  direction  of  the  guns,  are 
very  deserving. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

H.  DEARBORN. 
Hon.  Gen.  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  War. 

Return  of  the  loss  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States,   in  the  ac- 
tion of  the  27th  May,  1813. 

The  light  troops  under  the  command  of  lieutenant-colonel 
Scott- — captain  Roach  of  the  23d  infantry  wounded ;  lieute- 
nant Swearingen,  do. ;  23  non-commissioned  officers  and  pri- 
vates killed  ;  64  do.  wounded — total  89. 

General  Lewis's  division — first,  or  Boyd's  brigade,  lieute-  ' 
nant  H.  A.  Hobart,  killed ;  rank  and  file,  1  wounded. 

Sixth  regiment  of  infantry,  captain  Arrowsmith,  wounded; 
rank  and  file,  6  killed,  16  wounded. 

Fifteenth  regiment  of  infantry,  major  King,  wounded;  rank 
and  file,  1  killed,  6  wounded. 

VOL    I.    PART  II.  [H  h] 


230]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Sixteenth  regiment  of  infantry,  captain  Steel,  wounded ; 
rank  and  file,  8  killed,  9  wounded. 

New  York  volunteers,  rank  and  file,  4.  wounded. 

Second,  or  Winder's  brigade,  rank  and  file,  6  wounded. 

Third,  or  Chandler's  brigade,  none. 

Of  the  wounded,  but  61  have  been  sent  to  the  hospital. 
The  wounds  of  the  others  are  very  slight. 

Return  of  the  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed,  -wounded,  and  taken, 

in  the  action  of  the  27th  May,  1813. 
.Killed— 108. 

Prisoners — wounded,  1  colonel,  3  subalterns,  7  Serjeants, 
and  152  rank  and  file — 163.     Not  wounded— 1   captain,  1 
subaltern,  1  surgeon,  8  Serjeants,  and,  102  rank  and  file — 115. 
Total  loss  of  the  enemy,  386 — Militia  paroled,  507. 

E.  BEEBE,  Asst.  Adjt.-General. 


AMERICAN  AND  BRITISH  ACCOUNTS   OF  THE   ATTACK  ON 
SACKETT'S  HARBOUR. 

Copy  of  a  Despatch  from  Brigadier-General  Brown  to  the  Se- 
cretary of  War. 
Head-S^iarters,  Sacketfs  Harbour,  June  1,  1813. 

Sir,  you  will  have  received  my  despatch  of  the  29th  ultimo, 
written  from  the  field  of  battle,  and  stating  generally,  that  this 
post  had  been  attacked  by  sir  George  Prevost,  and  that  we 
had  succeeded  in  repulsing  him,  principally  owing  to  the  gal- 
lantry of  colonel  Backus  and  the  regular  troops  under  his 
immediate  command.  Now  I  beg  leave  to  offer  to  you  the 
events  of  that  day  more  in  detail. 

On  the  25th  ultimo,  I  received  a  letter  frbm  general  Dear- 
born, requesting  me  to  repair  to  this  post, for  the  purpose  of 
taking  the  command.  Knowing  that  lieutenant-colonel  Bac- 
kus, an  officer  of  the  first  regiment  of  dragoons  and  of  ex- 
perience, was  here,  I  hesitated,  as  I  would  do  no  act  which 
might  wound  his  feelings.'  In  the  night  of  the  27th  I  re- 
ceived a  note  from  this  officer  bv  major  Swan,  deputy-quar- 
ter-master-general,  joining  in  the  request  already  made  by 
major-general  Dearborn.  I  could  no  longer  hesitate,  and  ac- 
cordingly arrived  at  this  post  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
28th. — These  circumstances  will  explain  how  I  came  to  be  in 
command  upon  this  occasion.  Knowing  well  the  ground,  my 
arrangements  for  defence,  in  the  event  of  an  attack,  were 
soon  made. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [231 

n  the  course  of  die  morning  of  the  28th,  lieutenant 
Ch'umcev  of  the  navy  came  in  from  the  lake  firing  guns  of 
alarm.  Those  of  the  same  character,  intended  to  bring  in 
the  militia,  were  fired  from  the  posts.  The  enemy's  fleet 
soon  after  appeared,  accompanied  by  a  large  number  of  boats. 
Believing  that  he  would  land  on  the  peninsula,,  commonly- 
ailed  Horse  Island,  I  determined  to  meet  him  at  the  water's 
ge  with  such  militia  as  I  could  collect,  and  the  Albany  vo- 
ntecrs,  under  the  command  of  lieutenant-colonel  Mills; 
lieutenant-colonel  Backus,  with  the  regulars,  formed  a  second 
line  ;  the  care  of  Fort  Tompkins  was  committed  to  the  re- 
gular artillerists  and  some  volunteers,  and  that  of  Navy  Point 
to  lieutenant  Chauncey  of  the  navy.  If  driven  from  my 
position,  lieutenant-colonel  Backus  was  ordered  to  advance 
and  meet  the  head  of  the  enemy's  column,  while  rallying  my 
corps.  I  was  to  fall  on  its  flinks.  If  here  unable  to  resist 
the  enemv's  attack,  lieutenant  Chauncey  was  in  that  case  to 
destroy  the  stores,  8*c.  and  retire  to  the  south  shore  of  the 
bay,  east  of  Fort  Volunteer,  while  I  proceeded  to  occupy 
that  fort  as  our  dernier  resource. 

In  the  course  of  the  28th,  and  during  the  nights  of  the  2Sfh 
and  29th  ultimo,  a  considerable  militia  force  came  in,  and 
ere  ordered  to  the  water  side  n  "?.r  Horse  Island,  on  which 
as  lieutenant-colonel  Mills  and  his  volunteers.  Our  strength 
this  point  was  now  500  men — all  anxious  for  battle,  as  far 
profession!,  would  go.  The  moment  it  was  light  enough 
discover  the  approach  of  the  enemy  we  found  his  ships  in 
between  Horse  Island  and  Stoney  Point,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  afterwards  5"  '.Us,  filled  with  troops,  came  off 

to  the  Larger  Indian  or  Garden  Island,  under-  '.over  of  the 
fire  of  his  gun-boats.  Mv  orders  were  that  the  troops  should 
lie  close  and  reserve  their  fire  till  the  enemy  had  approached 
so  near  that  every  shot  might  hit  its  object. 

It  isT  however,  impossible  to  execute  such  orders  with  raw 
troops  unaccustomed  to  subordination.  My  orders  were  in 
this  case  disobeyed.  The  whole  line  fired,  and  not  without 
effect — but  in  the  moment  while  I  was  contemplating  this,  to 
rny  utter  astonishment,  they  rose  from  their  cover  and  fled. 
Colond  1 1  ills  fell  gallantly  in  brave*  but  vain  endeavours  to 

<op  his  men.     I  was  personally  more  fortunate.     Gathering 
r  about  100  militia,  under  the  immediate  command  of 
iptain  M'Nitt  of  that  corps,  we  threw  ourselves  on  the  rear 
of  the   enemy's  left  flank,  and,  I  trust,  did  some  execution. 
It  was  during  this  last  movement  that  the  regulars  under  co- 
lonel Backus  first  engaged' the  enemy — nor  was  it  long  before 


52]  HISTORIC^ 


they  defeated  him.  Hurrying  to  this  point  of  the  action,  1 
found  the  battle  still  raging,  but  with  obvious  advantage  on 
pur  side.  The  result  of  the  action,  so  glorious  for  the  offi- 
cers and  soldiers  of  the  regular  army,  has  already  been  com- 
municated in  my  letter  of  the  29th.  Had  not  general  Pre- 
vost  retreated  most  rapidly  under  the  guns  of  his  vessels,  he 
would  never  have  returned  to  Kingston. 

One  thing  in  this  business  is  to  be  seriously  regretted.  In 
the  midst  of  the  conflict,  fire  was  ordered  to  be  set  to  the 
navy  barracks  and  stores.  This  was  owing  to  the  infamous 
conduct  of  those  who  brought  information  to  lieutenant 
Chauncey,  that  the  battle  was  lost,  and  that  to  prevent 
stores  from  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands,  they  must  be  de- 
stroyed. 

The  enemy's  force  consisted  of  1000  picked  men,  led  by 
sir  George  Prevost  in  person.  Their  fleet  consisted  of  the 
new  ship  Wolf,  the  Royal  George,  the  Prince  Regent,  Earl  of 
JVIoira,  two  armed  schooners,  and  their  gun  and  other  boats. 

Of  the  officers  who  distinguished  themselves,  I  cannot  but 
repeat  the  name  of  lieutenant-colonel  Backus,  who,  praised 
be  God  !  yet  lives.  Captain  M'Nitt's  conduct  was*noble,  he 
will  deserve  to  be  placed  in  the  regular  army.  Major.  Swan 
of  the  army,  served  as  my  adjutant-general,  and  was  highly 
useful.  Lieutenant  Chauncey  is  a  brave  and  honourable  man. 
To  him  no  blame  can  attach  for  what  happened  at  Navy 
Point.  He  was  deceived.  Lieutenant-colonel  Tuttle  was  in 
march  for  this  post,  but  with  every  exertion  was  unabi 
reach  it  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  action.  This  is  felt  bv 
colonel  and  every  officer  of  his  detachment,  as  a  misfortune. 

At  the  moment  I  am  closing  this  communication,  commo- 
dore Chauncey  has  arrived  with  his  squadron.  This  renders 
my  longer  stay  here  unnecessary.  I  shall  therefore  immedi- 
ately return  to  my  home. 

I  am,  sir,  with  the  highest  respect,  &c. 

JACOB  BKOWN, 
Brig.-Gen.  of  the  New  York  Militia. 
The  Hon.  General  John  Arm-ftr, 

Secretary  at  War,  Washin 

Report  of  the  killed,  wounded,  ana  missing,  in  the  action  ofthi 

"29tk  May,  1813,  at  Socket? s  Harbour. 
Killed — 29  privates,  regulars,  and  1  volunteer. 

I — 1  lieutenaflt-colqnel,  0  ?d  lieutenants,  1  ensign, 
7  non-commissioned  officers,  1  musician,  and  68  privates,  re- 
gulars, and  1  musician  and  2  privates,  volunt 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [233 

Missing — 2  non-commissioned  officers,  7  privates,  regu- 
lars, 1  non-commissioned  officer,  1  musician,  and  15  privates, 
volunteers. 

Aggregate  loss — 110  regulars  and  21  volunteers.  Number 
not  known,  but  not  to  exceed  25  militia — Total  156. 

WM.  SWANN, 

Major  Id  Regt.  Infantry  &?  Acfg.  Adj.-Gen. 
Socket? s  Harbour,  June •!,  1813. 

N.  B.  About  400  of  the  regular  troops  sustained  the  heat 
of  the  action  ;  these  consisted  chiefly  of  the  1st  regiment  light 
dragoons,  some  of  the  9th,  21st,  and  a  few  of  the  23d  infan- 
try, 3d  and  light  artillery. 

Report  of  the  enemy's  loss  in  the  Action  ofthe29th  May, 1813, 
at  Sacketfs  Harbour. 

Adjutant-general  Gray,  colonel  Moody,  major  Edwards, 
1  captain,  and  25  rank  and  file  found  dead  in  the  field. 

2  captains,  and  20  rank  and  file  found  wounded  in  the  field. 

2  captains,  1  ensign,  and  32  rank  and  file  made  prisoners. 

In  addition  to  the  above  iijany  were  killed  and  wounded  in 
their  boats  by  the  militia  and  Albany  volunteers,  while  effect- 
ing a  landing ;  a  number  were  likewise  carried  off  the  field 
by  the  enemy,  previous  to  the  commencement  of  his  retreat. 

WM.  SWANN, 

Major  2d  Infantry  &?  Acfg.  Adj.  Gen. 
Sachet? 's  Harbour,  June  1,  1813. 

From  the  London  Gazette. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Lieutenant- General  Sir.  George 
Prevost,  dated 

Head-quarters^  Kingston,  June  1,  1813. 

Although,  as  your  lordship  will  perceive  by  the  report  of 
colonel  Baynes,  which  I  have  the  honour  herewith  to 'trans- 
mit, the  expedition  has  not  been  attended  with  the  complete 
success  which' was  expected  from  it,  I  hive  great  satisfac- 
tion in  informing  your  lordship,  that  the  courage  and  patience 
of  the  small  band  of  troops  employed  on  this  occasion,  under 
circumstances  of  peculiar  hardship  and  privation,  have  been 
exceeded  only  bv  their  intrepid  conduct  in  the  field,  forcing 
a  passage  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  through  a  thickly  wood- 
ed country,  affording  a  constant  shelter  ^and  strong  positions 
to  the  enemy;  but  not  a  single  spot  of  cleared  ground  favour- 
able to  the  operations  of  disciplined  soldiers. 


234]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Kingston,  May  30,  1812. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  report  to  your  excellency,  that  in 
conformity  to  an  arranged  plan  of  operations  with  commo- 
dore sir  •  James  Y T>,  the  fleet  of  boats  ass'-mbled  astern  of 
his  ship  at  ten  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  20th  instant,  with 
the  troops  placed  under  my  command,  and  led  by  a  gun-boat, 
under  the  direction  of  captain  Molcaster,  of  the  royal  navy, 
proceeded  towards  Sackett's  Harbour,  in  the  order  prescribed 
to  the  troops,  in  case  the  detachment  wns  obliged, to  march  in 
column,  viz.  the  grenadier  company,  100th,  with  one  section 
of  the  Royal  Scots,  two  companies  of  the  8',h  or  King's,  four 
of  the  104th,  two  of  the  Canadian  Voltigeurs,  two  six-poun- 
ders, with  their  gunners,  and  a  company  of  Glengary  light 
infantry,  were  embarked  on  board  a  light  schooner,  which 
was  proposed  to.be  towed,  under  the  direction  of  officers  of 
the  navy,  so  as  to  insure  the  guns  being  landed  in  time,  to 
support  the  advance  of  the  troops.  Although  the  night  was 
dark,  with  rain,  the  boats  assembled  in  the  vicinity  ol  Sack- 
ett's Harbour,  by  one  o'clock,,  in  compact  and  regular  order, 
and  in  this  position  it  was  intended  to  remain,  until  the  day 
broke,  in  the  hope  of  effecting  a  landing  be-fore  the  enemy 
could  be  prepared  to  line  the  woods  with  troops,  which  sur- 
round the  coast;  but  unfortunately,  a  strong^  current  drifted 
the  boats  considerably,  while  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and 
ignorance  of  the  coast,  prevented  them  from  rccovi 
proper  station  until  the  day  dawned,  when  the  whole  pulled 
for  the  point  of  debarkation. 

It  was  mv  intention  to  have  landed  in  the  cove  formed  by 
Horse  island,  but  on  approaching  it  we  discovered  ;he  c^iny 
were  fullv  prepared  by  a  very  heavy  fire  of  musketry  fro  ra- 
the surrounding  woods,  which  were  filled  with  infantry,  sup- 
ported with  a  field  piece.  I  directed  the  boats  to  pull  round 
to  the  other  side  of  the  island,  where  a  landing  was  effected 
in  good  order  and  with  little  loss,  although  executed  in  the 
face  of  a  corps  formed  with  a  field  piece  in  the  wood,  and  un- 
der the  enfilade  of  a  heavy  gun  of  the  enemy's  principal  bat- 
ten-. The  advance  was  led  by  the  grenadiers  of  the  100th 
regiment  with  undaunted  gallantry,  which  no  obstacle  could 
arrest ;  a  narrow  causeway,  in  many  places  under  water,  not 
more  than  four  feet  wide,  and  about  400  paces  in  length, 
whi-  h  connected  the  island  and  main  land,  was  occupied  by 
the  enemy  in  great  force  with  a  six-pounder.  It  was  forced 
and  carried  in  the  most  spirited  manner,  and  the  gun  taken 
before  a  second  discharge  could  be  made  from  it;  a  tumbril, 
with  a  few  rounds  of  ammunition,  was  found,  but  unfortu- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [235 

natelv  the  artillerymen  were  still  behind,  the,  schooner  not 
having  been  able  to  get  up  in  time,  and  the  troops  were  ex- 
posrd  to  so  heavy  and  galling  a  fire  from  so  numerous  but 
almost  invisible  foe,  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  halt  for  the 
artillery  to  come  up.  At  this  spot  uvo  paths  L.-d  in  opposite 
directions  round  the  hill.  I  directed  colonel  Young  of  the 
King's  regiment,  with  half  of  the  detachment,  to  penetrate 
by  the  left,  and  major  Drummond  of  the  101th,  tp  force  the 
path  bv  the-  right,  which  proved  to  be  more  open  and  was  less 
occupied  by  the  enemy.  On  the  left  the  wood  was  very  thick, 
and  was  most  obstinately  maintained  by  the  enemy. 

The  gun-boats  which  had  covered  our  landing,  afforded 
material  aid,  by  firing  into  the  woods,  but  the  American  sol- 
dier secure  behind  a  tree,  was  only  to  be  dislodged  by  the 
bayonet.  The  spirited  adyance  of  a  section  produced  the 
flight  of  hundreds- — from  this  observation  all  firing  was  di- 
rected to  cease,  and  the  detachment  being  formed  in  as  regu- 
lar order  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  would  admit,  pushed 
forward  through  the  wood  upon  the  enemy,  who,  although 
greatly  superior  in  numbers,  and  supported  by  field-pieces, 
and  a  heavy  fire  from  their  fort,  fled  with  precipitation  to 
their  block-house  and  fort,  abandoning  one  of  their  guns. 
The  division  under  colonel  Young  was  joined  iri  the  charge 
by  that  under  major  Drummond,  which  was  executed  with 
such  spirit  and  promptness,  that  many  of  the  enemy  fell  in 
their  enclosed  barracks,  which  were  set  on  fire  by  our  troops  ; 
at  this  point  the  further  energies  of  the  troops  became  una- 
vailing. 

Their  block-house  and  stockaded  battery  could  not  be 
carried  by  assault,  nor  reduced  b\  field-pieces,  had  we  been 
provided  with  them  ;  the  fire  of  the  gun-boats  proved  in- 
efficient to  attain  that  end — light  and  adverse  winds  continued, 
and  our  larger  vessels  were  still  far  off.  The  enemy  turned 
the  heavy  ordnance  of  the  battery  to  the  interior  defence  of 
the  post.  He  had  set  fire  to  the  store-houses  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  fort. 

Seeing  no  object  within  our  reach  to  attain  that  could  com- 
pensate for  the  loss  we  were  momently  sustaining  from  the 
heavy  fire  of  the  enemy's  cannon,  I  directed  the  troops  to 
take  up  the  position  on  the  crest  of  the  hill  we  had  charged 
from.  From  this  position  we  were  ordered  to  re-embark, 
which  was  performed  at  our  leisure,  the  enemy  not  presum- 
ing to  show  a  single  soldier  without  the  limits  of  his  fortress. 
Your  excellency  having  been  a  witness  of  the  zeal  and  ardent 
courage  of  every  soldier  in  the  field,  it  is  unnecessary  in  me 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 


to  assure  your  excellency  that  but  one  sentiment  animated 
every  breast,  that  of  discharging  to  the  utmost  of  their  power 
their  duty  to  their  king  and  their  country  :  but  one  sentiment 
of  regret  and  mortification  prevailed,  on  being  obliged  to  quit 
a  beaten  enemy  whom  a  small  band  of  British  soldiers  had 
driven  before-  them  for  three  hours,  through  a  country 
abounding  in  strong  positions  of,  defence,  but  not  offering  a 
single  spot  of  cleared  ground  favourable  for  the  operations  of 
disciplined  troops,  without  having  fully  accomplished  the  duty 
we  were  ordered  to  perform. 

The  two  divisions  of  the  detachments  were  ably  com- 
manded by  colonel  Young  of  the  King's,  and  major  Drum- 
mond  of  the  lO4th.  The  detachment  of  the  king's,  under 
major  Evans,  nobly  sustained  the  high  and  established  cha- 
racter of  that  distinguished  corps  ;  and  captain  Burke  availed 
himself  of  the  opportunity  afforded  him  in  leading  the  ad- 
vance to  display  the  intrepidity  of  British  grenadiers.  The 
detachment  of  the  104th  regiment,  under  major  Moodly, 
captain  M'Pherson's  company  of  Glengary  light  infantry,  and 
two  companies  of  Canadian  voltigeurs,  commanded  by  ma- 
jor Hainot,  all  of  them  levies  of  the  British  provinces  of 
North  America,  evinced  most  striking  proofs  of  their  loyalty, 
steadiness,  and  courage.  The  detachment  of  the  Royal  New- 
foundland regiment  behaved  with  great  gallantry. 

Your  excellency  will  lament  the  loss  of  that  active  and  in- 
telligent officer,  captain  Gray,  acting  deputy-quarter-master- 
general,  who  fell  close  to  the  enemy's  work,  while  reconnoi- 
tering  it,  in  the  hope  to  discover  some  opening  to  favour  an 
assault.  • 

Commodore  sir  James  Yeo  conducted  the  fleet  of  boats  in' 
the  attack,  and  accompanying  the  advance  of  troops,  directed 
the  co-operation  of  the  gun-boats. 

I  feel  most  grateful  for  your  excellency's  kind  considera- 
tion, in  allowing  your  aids  de-camp,  majors  Coore  and  Ful- 
ton, to  accompany  me  in  the  field ;  and  to  these  officers  for 
the  able  assistance  they  afforded  me. 
.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

(Signed)  EDWARD  BAYNES, 

Colonel  Glengary  Light  Infantry,  commanding. 
,  To  his  Excellency,  Lieutenant  General 
Sir  George  Prevost,  Bart.   c£?c. 

Return  of  killed^  wounded  and  ?/.  nn  attack  on  Sacketfs 

Harbour,  on  t-  ."lay. 

Total — 1  general  staff,  3  serjeants,  43  rank  and  file  killed, 


' 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [237 

3   majors,  3  captains,  5  lieutenants,  1  ensign,  7  Serjeants,  2 
drummers,  172  rank  and  file,  2  gunners  wounded  ;  2  captains, 

ensign,  13  rank  and  file,  wounded  and   missing. 
Names  of  officers  foiled  and  wounded. 

Killed — captain  A.  Gray,  acting  deputy-quarter-master- 
general. 

Wounded — 8th  or  King's  regiment,  major  Evans,  slightly; 
captain  Blackmore,  dangerously  ;  captain  Tythe,  severely, 
lieutenant  Nutall,  since  dead,  lieutenant  Gregg,  prisoner. 

104th  regiment,  majors  Drummond  and  Moodie,  slightly ; 
captain  Leonard,  severely,  captain  Shore,  slightly,  lieutenants 
Rainford,  Moore,  and  Delances. 

.     Glengary  light  infantry,  captain  M'Pherson,  severely  ;  en- 
sign Mathev/son,  slightly. 

(Signed)  EDW.  BAYNES. 

Adjutant-General,  North  America. 


AMERICAN  AND  BRITISH  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  CAPTURE  OF 
GENERALS  CHANDLER  AND  WINDER. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Major-General  Dearborn  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  dated 
Head- Quarter's  ^  Fort  George,  J'une  6,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  received  an  express  from  the  head  of  the  lake 
this  evening,  with  intelligence  that  our  troops,  commanded  by 
brigadier-general  Chandler,  were  attacked  at  two  o'clock  this 
morning  by  the  whole  of  the  British  and  Indian  forces,  and 
by  some  strange  fatality,  though  our  loss  was  small  (not  ex- 
ceeding thirty),  and  the  enemy  completely  routed  and  driven 
from  the  field,  both  brigadier-generals  Chandler  and  Winder 
were  taken  prisoners.  They  had  advanced  to  ascertain  the 
situation  of  a  company  of  artillery  when  the  attack  commen- 
ced. General  Vincent  is  reported  to  be  among  the  killed  of 
the  enemy;  colonel  Clark  was  mortally  wounded, and  fell  into 
our  hands,  with  60  prisoners  of  the  49th  British  regiment. 
The  whole  loss  of  the  enemy  is  two  hundred  and  fifty.  They 
sent  in  a  flag  with  a  request  to  bury  their  dead.  General 
Lewis,  accompanied  by  brigadier-general  Boyd,  goes  on  to 
take  the  command  of  the  advanced  troops. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  &c. 

H.   DEARBORN. 
Hon.  Gen.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  War. 

P.  S.  June  8. — The  enemy's  fleet  has  passed  this  place — 
two  ships  and  four  schooners. 

VOL.  I.    TART.    II.  [  II  ] 


238]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Major-General  Lewis,  to  the  Secretary 
of  War,  dated 

Niagara,   'June  14,  1813. 

Sir,  you  will  perceive  bv  the  enclosed  copy  of  orders  marked 
1,  that  general  Dearborn,  from  indisposition  has  resigned  his 
command,  not  only  of  the  Niagara  army  but  of  the  district. 
I  have  doubts  whether  he  will  ever  again  be  fit  for  service. 
He  has  been  repeatedly  in  a  state  of  convalescence ;  but  re- 
lapses on  the  least  agitation  of  mind. 

In  my  last  I  mentioned  the  unfortunate  circumstance  of 
the  capture  of  our  two  brigadiers,  Chandler  and   Winder. 
The  particulars  are  detailed  in  the  report  of  colonel  Burn, 
which  he  gives   from  the  best  information  he  could  collect.. 
His  corps  lay  a  considerable  distance  from  the  scene  of  ac- 
tive operation,  as  you  will  perceive  by  the  enclosed  diagram, 
which  is  on  a  scale  of  about  100  yards  to  the  inch.    The  light 
corps   spoken  of  were   captain  Hindman's,  Nicholas's,    and 
Riddle's    companies  of  the  2d  artillerv,  serving  as  infantry. 
These  three  gentlemen  and  captains  Archer  and  Towson  of 
the  same   regiment,  and   Leonard  of  the  light  artillery  are 
soldiers  who  would  honour  any  service.     Their  gallantry  and 
that  of  their  companies  was  equally  conspicuous  on  this  occa- 
sion as  in  the  affair  of  the  27th  ultimo,      A  view  of  general 
Chandler's  encampment  will  be  sufficient  to  show  that  his  dis- 
aster was  owing  to  its    arrangement.     Its  centre  being  its 
weakest  point,  and  that  being  discovered  by  the  enemy  in 
the  evening,  received  the  combined  attack  of  his  whole  force, 
and  his  line  was  completely  cut.     The  gallantry  of  the   5th, 
25th,  and  part  of  the  23d,  and  light  troops,  saved  the  army — 
of  the  5th  it  is  said,  that  when  the  day  broke  not  a  man  was 
missing — and  that  a  part  of  the  twenty-third  under  major 
Armstrong  was  found  sustaining  its  left  flank.     Their  fire 
was  irresistible — and  the  enemy  was  compelled  to  give  way. 
Could  he  have  been  pressed  the  next  morning,  his  destruc- 
tion was  inevitable.      He  was   dispersed  in  every  direction, 
and  even  his  commanding  general  was  missing,  without  his 
hat  or  horse.     I  understand  he  was  found  the  next  morning 
almost  famished,  at  a  distance  of  four  miles  from  the  scene 
of  action. 

Lieutenant  MlChesney's  gallantry  recovered  a  piece  of  ar- 
till.-ry,  and  prevented  the  capture  of  others.  He  merits  pro- 
motion for  it. 

On  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  June,  I  received  the  order 
No.  4,  and  joined  the  army  at  five  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
7th.  I  found  it  at  the  Forty  Mile  Creek,  10  miles  in  the  rear  of 


,       OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [239 

the  ground  on  which  it  had  been  attacked,  encamped  on  a 
plain  about  a  mile  in  width,  with  its  right  flank  on  the  lake, 
and  its  left  on  the  creek  which  skirts  the  base  of  a  perpen- 
dicular mountain  of  a  considerable  height.  On  my  route  I 
received  Nos.  5  and  6  enclosed. 

At  six  in  the  evening  the  hostile  fleet  hove  in  sight — though 
its  character  could  not  be  ascertained  with  precision.  We 
lay  on  our  arms  all  night.  At  dawn  of  day  struck  our  tents, 
and  descried  the  hostile  squadron  abreast  of  us,  about  a 
mile  from  the  shore.  Our  boats  which  transported  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  our  baggage  and  camp  equipage  lay  on  the 
beach — it  was  a  dead  calm — and  about  six  the  enemy  towed 
in  a  large  schooner  which  opened  her  fire  on  our  boats.  As 
soon  as  she  stood  for  the  shore,  her  object  being  evident,  I 
ordered  down  Archer's  and  Towson's  companies,  with  iour 
pieces  of  artillery,  to  resist  her  attempts.  I  at  the  same  time 
sent  captain  Totten  of  the  engineers  (a  most  valuable  officer) 
to  construct  a  temporary  furnace  for  heating  shot,  which  was 
prepared  and  in  operation  in  less  than  3O  minutes.  Her  fire 
was  returned  with  a  vivacity  and  effect  (excelled  by  no  artil- 
lery in  the  universe)  which  soon  compelled  her  to  retire. 

A  party  of  savages  now  made  their  appearance  on  the 
brow  of  the  mountain  (which  being  perfectly  bald,  exhibited 
them  to  our  view),  and  commenced  a  fire  on  our  camp.  I 
ordered  colonel  Christie  to  dislodge  them,  who  entered  on 
the  service  with  alacrity,  but  found  himself  anticipated  by 
lieutenant  Eldriclge,  the  adjutant  of  his  regiment,  who  with 
a  promptness  and  gallantry  highly  honourable  to  that  young 
officer,  had  already  gained  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  with 
a  party  of  volunteers,  and  routed  the  barbarian  allies  of  the 
defender  of  the  Christian  faith.  This  young  man  merits  the 
notice  of  government. 

These  little  affairs  cost  us  not  a  man.  Sir  James  L.  Yeo 
being  disappointed  of  a  tragedy,  next  determined,  in  a  true 
dramatic  style,  to  amuse  us  with  a  farce.  An  officer  with  a 
flag  was  sent  to  me  from  his  ship,  advising  me,  that  as  I  was 
infested  with  savages  in  my  rear,  a  fleet  in  my  front,  and  a 
powerful  army  on  my  flank,  he,  and  the  officers  commanding 
his  Britannic  majesty's  land  forces,  thought  it  their  duty  to 
demand  a  surrender  of  my  army.  I  answered  that  the  mes- 
sage was  too  ridiculous  to  merit  a  reply. 

No.  T,  was  delivered  to  me  at  about  six  this  morning ;  be- 
tween 7  and  8  o'clock  the  four  waggons  we  had  being  lo  id- 
ed  first  with  the  sick  and  next  with  ammunition,  &c.  the  re- 
sidue of  camp  equipage  and  baggage  was  put  into  the  uoats, 


240]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

and  a  detachment  of  260  men  of  the  sixth  regiment  detached 
to  proceed  in  them.  Orders  were  prepared  to  be  given  them 
to  defend  the  boats,  and  if  assailed  by  any  of  the  enemy's 
small  vessels,  to  carry  them  by  boarding.  By  some  irregu- 
larity, which  I  have  not  been  able  to  discover,  the  boats  put 
off  without  the  detachment,  induced  probably  by  the  still- 
ness of  the  morning.  When  they  had  progressed  about  three 
miles  a  breeze  sprung  up,  and  an  armed  schooner  overhauled 
them  ;  those  who  were  enterprising  kept  on  and  escaped, 
others  ran  to  the  shore  and  deserted  their  boats;  we  lost 
twelve  of  the  number,  principally  containing  the  baggage  of 
the  officers  and  men. 

At  ten  I  put  the  army  in  motion  on  our  return  to  this 
place.  The  savages  and  incorporated  militia  hung  on  our 
flanks  and  rear  throughout  the  march,  and  picked  up  a  few 
stragglers.  On  our  retiring  the  British  army  advanced,  and 
now  occupies  the  ground  we  left. 

The  enemy's  fleet  is  constantly  hovering  on  our  coast,  and 
interrupting  our  supplies.  The  night  before  last,  being  ad- 
vised of  their  having  chased  into  Eighteen  Mile  Creek  two 
vessels  laden  with  hospital  stores,  &c.,  I  detached  at  mid- 
night 75  men  for  their  protection.  The  report  of  the  day  is 
(though  not  official),  that  they  arrived  too  late  for  their  pur- 
pose, and  that  the  stores  are  lost.  . 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

MORGAN  LEWIS. 
Hon.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  at  War. 

No.  5,  referred  to  in  the  Report  of  General  Lervis. 


Niagara,  June  6,  1813. 

Dear  General,  a  ship  having  appeared  this  morning  steer- 
ing towards  the  head  of  the  lake,  which  is  undoubtedly  one 
of  the  enemy's  ships  ;  and  as  others  are  appearing,  you  will 
please  to  return  with  the  troops  to  this  place  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble. Yours,  with  esteem, 

H.  DEARBORN. 

P.  S.  The  object  of  the  enemy's  fleet  must  be  either  to 
cover  the  retreat  of  their  troops,  or  to  bring  on  a  reinforce- 
ment. H.  D. 

Major  -General  Lervis. 

Report  of  the  killed,  -wounded,  and  missing,  in  the  action  of  the 

6th  of  June,  at  Stoneij  Creek. 
Killed  —  1  serjeant,  1  corporal,  15  privates. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [241 

Wounded — 1  captain,  1  serjeant,  2  corporals,  and  34  pri- 
vates. 

Missing — 2  brigadier-generals,   I  major,  3  captains,  1  su- 
baltern, 9  Serjeants,  4  corporals,  and  80  privates. 

Total  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  154. 

Correct  return  from  the  reports  of  the  different  corps  in 
the  action  of  the  6th  instant,  at  Stoney  Creek. 

J.  JOHNSON,  Asst.  Adj.-Gen. 

Extract  from  the  British  General  Orders,  dated 

Head- Quarters,  7th  June,  1813. 

Brigadier-general  Vincent  congratulates  the  troops  on  the 
success  which  crowned  the  attack  made  by  the  King's,  and 
49th  regiments  on  the  enemy's  position  and  camp  at  Gages 
yesterday  morning,  when  his  force,  consisting  of  not  less  than. 
S50O  men,  advantageously  posted  and  protected  by  a  consi- 
derable number  of  guns,  was  completely  routed  and  driven 
off  the  field  ;  4  pieces  of  cannon,  with  their  tumbrils,  horses, 
&c.  2  brigadier-generals,  5  field  officers  and  captains,  and  up- 
wards of  100  prisoners  were  the  trophies  of  this  brilliant  en- 
terprise. Immediately  after  our  troops  had  retired  towards 
their  cantonments,  the  enemy  abandoned  the  position  to 
which  he  had  fled,  and  after  burning  and  destroying  a  quan- 
tity of  baggage  and  provisions,  carriages,  blankets,  arms,  &;c. 
commenced  a  precipitate  retreat,  and  did  not  halt  until  he 
reached  the  Forty  Mile  Creek,  12  miles  (through  the  worst  pos- 
sible roads)  from  the  scene  of  action:  here  he  effected  a 
junction  with  a  reinforcement  which  was  on  its  march  to  join 
him. 

Head-quarters,  Kingston,  8th  June,  5  o'clock,  P.  M. 
His  excellency  the  commander  of  the  forces  has  just  re- 
ceived an  express,  announcing  that  a  strong  division  of  the 
American  army  had  advanced  to  the  Forty  Mile  Creek,  with 
the  intention  of  attacking  the  position  occupied  by  brigadier- 
general  Vincent  at  the  head  of  Burlington  bay.  The  ene- 
my's plan  was  however  anticipated  by  the  gallant  general, 
and  completely  defeated  by  a  spirited  attack  at  day-break  on 
the  6th  instant  on  the  American  army,  which  was  completely 
defeated  and  dispersed.  Twelve  officers,  two  of  whom  are 
generals,  and  five  pieces  of  cannon  were  taken — and  the  fugi- 
tives were  pursued  in  every  direction  by  a  numerous  body  of 
Indians  under  the  chief  Norton.  The  enemy's  force  is'sta- 
ted  at  200  cavalry  and  4000  infantry,  besides  a  strong  force 
in  boats. 


242]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

The  (intelligence  was  communicated  off  York,  at  2  P.  M., 
to  commodore  sir  James  Yeo,  who  had  sailed  with  the  fleet  on 
the  3d  instant,  to  co-operate  with  general  Vincent — and  im- 
mediately proceeded  with  reinforcements  on  board  to  support 
the  general's  further  attack  upon  the  enemy.  Further  rein- 
forcements under  major  De  Haren,  proceeded  this  day  from 
Kingston  to  join  general  Vincent.  The  British  loss  has  been 
very  slight.  The  official  despatch  is  hourly  expected. 

E.  B.  A.  G. 


AMERICAN    AND    BRITISH    ACCOUNTS    OF    THE    CAPTURE    OF 
THE    DETACHMENT    UNDER    GENERAL    BOERSTLER. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Major-General  Dearborn  to  the 
Secretary  at  War,  dated  Head  Quarters, 

Fort  George,  June  25th,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  mortification  of  informing  you  of  an  un- 
fortunate and  unaccountable  event  which  occurred  yesterday. 
On  the  23d,  at  evening,  lieutenant-colonel  Boerstler,  with  570 
men,  infantry,  artillery,  cavalry,  and  riflemen,  in  due  propor- 
tion, was  ordered  to  march  by  the  way  of  Queenstown,  to  a 
place  called  the  Beaver  Dams,  on  the  high  ground,  about 
eight  or  nine  miles  from  Queenstown,  to  attack  and  disperse 
a  body  of  the  enemy,  collected  there  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
curing provisions,  and  harassing  those  inhabitants  who  are 
considered  friendly  to  the  United  States. 

Their  force  was,  from  the  most  direct  information, 
composed  of  one  company  of  the  104th  regiment,  above 
eighty  strong;  from  150  to  200  militia,  and  from  fifty  to 
sixty  Indians.  At  eight  o'clock,  yesterday  morning,  when 
within  two  miles  of  the  Beaver  Dams,  our  detachment  was 
attacked  from  an  ambuscade ;  but  soon  drove  the  enemy 
some  distance  into  the  woods,  and  then  retired  to  a  clear 
field,  and  sent  an  express  for  a  reinforcement,  saying  he 
would  maintain  his  position  until  reinforced ;  a  reinforce- 
ment of  300  men  marched  immediately  under  the  command 
of  colonel  Christie;  but  on  arriving  at  Queenstown,  colonel 
Christie  received  authentic  information  that  lieutenant-colo- 
nel Bcerstler  with  his  command  had  surrendered  to  the  ene- 
my, and  the  reinforcement  returned  to  camp. 

A  man  who  belonged  to  a  small  corps  of  mounted  volun- 
teer riflemen,  came  in  this  morning,  who  states  that  the  ene- 
my surrounded  our  detachment  in  the  woods,  and  towards 
twelve  o'clock  commenced  a  general  attack— that  our  troops 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [243 

fought  more  than  two  hours  until  the  artillery  had  expended 
the  whole  of  its  ammunition,  and  then  surrendered;  and  at 
the  time  of  the  surrender  the  informant  made  his  escape. 
Why  it  should  have  been  deemed  proper  to  remain  several 
hours  in  a  position  surrounded  with  woods,  without  either 
risking  a  decisive  action  or  effecting  a  retreat,  remains  to  be' 
accounted  for,  as  well  as  the  project  of  waiting  for  a  rein- 
forcement from  a  distance  of  15  or  16  miles. 

No  information  has  been  received  of  the  killed  or  wound- 
ed. The  enemy's  fleet  has  again  arrived  in  our  neighbour- 
hood. 

With  respect  and  esteem,  I  am,  sir,  yours,  &c. 

H.  DEARBORN. 
Hon.  jfohn  Armstrong,  Secretary  at  War. 

From  the  London  Gazette,  September  11. 
Colonial  Department. 

Downing  Street,  September  7. 

A  Despatch,  of  •which  the  following1  is  an  extract,  has  been  re- 
ceived by  Earl  Bathurst,  one  of  his  Majesty's  principal  Se- 
cretaries of  State,  from  Lieutenant-General  Sir  George  Pre- 
vost,  Bart. 

Kingston,  Upper  Canada,  July  3,  1813. 
I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  to  your  lordship  copies  of  let- 
ters from  colonel  Vincent  and  lieutenant-colonel  Bishop,  and 
of  the  papers  accompanying  them,  containing  the  highly  gra- 
tifying intelligence  of  the  capture,  on  the  24th  ultimo,  of  a 
body  of  the  enemy's  forces,  consisting  of  2  field-officers,  21 
other  officers  of  different  ranks,  27  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers, and  462  privates,  together  with  a  stand  of  colours  and 
2  field-pieces.  The  details  of  this  gallant  affair,  which  re- 
flects so  much  credit  on  our  Indian  allies,  as  well  as  upon 
lieutenant  Fitzgibbon,  for  the  promptitude  and  decision  with 
which  he  availed  himself  of  the  impression  their  attack  had 
made  upon  the  enemy,  will,  I  have  no  doubt,  be  read  by  your 
lordship  with  great  satisfaction.  Since  the  surprise  of  the 
enemy's  camp  at  Stoney  Creek,  on  the  6th  ultimo,  and  their 
subsequent  retreat  from  the  Forty  Mile  Creek,  in  which  al- 
most the  whole  of  their  camp  equipage,  together  with  a  quan- 
tity of  stores  and  provisions,  fell  into  our  hands,  major- 
general  Dearborn  has  withdrawn  the  troops  from  Fort  Erie, 
and  has  concentrated  his  forces  at  Fort  George.  Colonel 
Vincent  has,  i»  consequence,  made  a  forward  movement  from, 
the  head  of  the  lake,  in  order  to  support  the  light  infantry  and 
Indian  warriors,  who  are  employed  ip  circumscribing  the 


i>44]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

enemy,  so  as  to  compel  them  to  make  use  of  their  own  re- 
sources for  the  maintenance  of  their  army.  Major-general 
de  Rottenburgh  has  assumed  the  command  of  the  centre  di- 
vision of  the  army  of  Upper  Canada.  After  the  squadron 
under  commodore  sir  James  Yeo  had  shown  itself  off  the 
Forty  Mile  Creek,  which  principally  determined  the  enemy 
to  retreat  from  that  position,  it  was  very  successfully  employ- 
ed in  interrupting  and  cutting  off  the  supplies  going  from  the 
Genessee  river,  and  their  other  settlements  upon  the  south- 
ern shore  of  the  lake ;  five  small  vessels,  with  provisions, 
clothing,  and  other  articles  were  taken,  and  several  loaded 
boats  were  captured,  and  some  destroyed. 

(Transmitted by  Colonel  Vincent?) 

Beaver  Darn,  June  24,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  the  troops  you 
have  done  me  the  honour  to  place  under  my  command,  have 
succeeded  this  day  in  taking  prisoners  a  detachment  of  the 
United  States'  army,  under  the  command  of  lieutenant-colo- 
nel Bcerstler.  In  this  affair  the  Indian  warriors,  under  the 
command  of  captain  Kerr,  were  the  only  force  actually  en- 
gaged :  to  them  great  merifis  due,  and  to  them  I  feel  par- 
ticularly obliged  for  their  gallant  conduct  on  this  occasion. 
On  the  appearance  of  the  detachment  of  the  49th  regiment, 
under  lieutenant  Fitzgibbon,  and  the  light  company  of  the  8th 
or  King's  regiment,  the  two  flank  companies  of  the  104th, 
under  major  De  Haren,  and  the  provincial  cavalry  under 
captain  Hall,  the  whole  surrendered  to  his  majesty's  forces. 
To  the  conduct  of  lieutenant  Fitzgibbon,  through  whose  ad- 
dress the  capitulation  was  entered  into,  may  be  attributed  the 
surrender  of  the  American  force.  To  major  De  Haren,  for 
his  speedy  movement  to  the  point  of  attack,  and  execution  of 
the  arrangements  I  had  previously  made  with  him,  I  am  very 
much  obliged.  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  the  capitulation 
entered  into  between  colonel  Bosrstler  and  myself,  and  a  re- 
turn of  prisoners  taken,  exclusive  of  wounded,  not  yet  as- 
certained. I  lost  no  time  in  forwarding  my  staff-adjutant, 
lieutenant  Barnard,  to  communicate  to  you  this  intelligence. 
He  has  been  particularly  active  and  useful  to  me  upon  all  oc- 
casions. I  take  this  opportunity  of  mentioning  him  to  you, 
and  beg  the  favour  of  you  to  recommend  him  to  his  excel- 
lency sir  George  Prevost,  as  an  active  and  promising  young 
officer.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

(Signed)  CECIL  BISHOPP, 

Lieutenant-colonel,  commanding  the  troops  in  advance. 
Brigadier-General  Vincent,  &c. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [245 

Townnhip  of  Louth,   June  24,  1813. 

Sir,  at  De  Coris,  this  morning,  about  7  o'clock,  I  received 
information  that  about  1000  of  the  enemy,  with  guns,  were 
advancing  towards  me  from^St.  David's.  I  soon  after  heard 
a  firing  of  cannon  and  musketry,  and  in  consequence  rode  in 
advance,  Smiles  on  the  St.  David's  road.  I  discovered  by  the 
firing  that  the  enemy  was  moving  for  the  road  on  the  moun- 
tain. I  sent  off  cornet  M 'Kenny  to  order  out  my  detachment 
of  the  49th,  consisting  of  a  subaltern  and  46  rank  and  file, 
and  close  upon  the  enemy  to  reconnoitre.  I  discovered  him 
on  the  mountain  road,  and  took  a  position  on  an  eminence  to 
the  right  of  it.  My  men  arrived  and  pushed  on  in  his  front 
to  cut  off  his  retreat,  under  a  fire  from  his  guns,  which  how- 
ever did  no  execution.  After  examining  his  positions,  I  was 
informed  he  expected  reinforcements:  I  therefore  decided  upon 
summoning  him  to  surrender. — After  the  exchange  of  several 
propositions,  between  lieutenant-colonel  Boerstler  and  myself 
in  the  name  of  lieutenant-colonel  De  Haren,  lieutenant-colo- 
nel Boerstler  agreed  to  surrender  on  the  terms  stated  in  the 
articles  of  capitulation.  On  my  return  to  my  men  to  send 
out  an  officer  to  superintend  the  details  of  the  surrender,  you 
arrived. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

(Signed)  J.  FITZGIBBON,  Lieut.  49*A  Foot. 

To  Major  De  Haren,  &c.  &c. 

Juried,  1813. 

Particulars  of  the  capitulation  made  between  captain 
M'Dowell,  on  the  part  of  lieutenant-colonel  Bosrstler,  of  the 
United  States'  army,  and  major  De  Haren,  of  his  Britannic 
majesty's  Canadian  regiment,  on  the  part  of  lieutenant-colo- 
nel Bishop,  commanding  the  advance  of  the  British,  re- 
specting the  force  under  the  command  of  lieutenant-colonel 
Boerstler. 

1st.  That  lieutenant-colonel  Bcerstler,  and  the  force  under 
his  command,  shall  surrender  prisoners  of  war. 

2d.  That  the  officers  shall  retain  their  arms,  horses,  and 
baggage. 

3d.  That  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers  shall 
lay  down  their  arms  at  the  head  of  the  British  column,  and 
become  prisoners  of  war. 

4th.  That  the  militia  and  volunteers,  with  Ueutenant-colo- 
VOL,  i.  PART  ir.  [K  k] 


246]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

nel  Bcerstler,    shall  be    permitted  to  return  to  the  United 
States  on  parole. 

(Signed)  ANDW.  M'DOWELL, 

Captain  United  States'  Light  Artillery 
Acceded  to, 

(Signed)  P.  G.   BUSTLER, 

Lieutenant-Colonel  commanding  Detachment  United 

States'  Army. 
P.  V.  DE  HAREN, 
Major  Canadian  Regiment. 

Return  of  American  Prisoners  taken  near  Fort  George, 
June  24,  1813. 

Light  dragoons — 1   cornet,  1  serjeant,  19  rank   and  file. 
Light  artillery — 1   captain,  1  lieutenant,  2  Serjeants,  31  rank 
and  file.  6th  regiment  of  infantry — 1  captain,  1  lieutenant,  3 
Serjeants,  54  rank  and  file.    14th  ditto — 1  lieutenant-colonel, 
3  captains,  11  lieutenants,   1  surgeon,  15  Serjeants,  301  ran 
and  file.  20th  ditto — 1  major.   23d  ditto— 1   captain,  4  ser 
jeants,  2  drummers,  57  rank  and  file. 

Total — 1  lieutenant-colonel,  1  major,  6  captains,  13  lieute- 
nants, 1  cornet,  1  surgeon,  25  Serjeants,  2  drummers,  462 
rank  and  file. 

30  militia  released  on  parole,  not  included  in  this  return. 

Return  of  Ordnance,  &?c.  taken. 

One  12  pounder,  one  6  pounder,  2  cars,  stand  of  colours  of 
the  14th  United  States'  regiment. 

(Signed)  EDW.  BAYNES,  Adj.-Gen. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  is  supposed  to  be  about  19O  in 
killed  and  wounded. 


SKIRMISHES  AT  FORT  GEORGE. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Brigadier -General  Boijd  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  dated 

Fort  George,  July  20. 

I  have  the  honour  to  report,  that  on  17th  instant,  the  ene- 
my attacked  our  pickets,  in  a  body  of  about  2OO  British,  be- 
sides Indians.  Detachments  were  sent  out  to  support  them, 
but  with  instructions  to  act  defensively.  After  a  contest  of 
one  hour,  occasionally  severe,  the  enemy  was  dispersed.  Our 
loss  was  trifling — only  three  or  four  being  killed,  and  a  few 
wounded ;  the  loss  of  the  enemy  has  not  been  ascertained, 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [247 

but  being  exposed  to  some  well-directed  fires  of  our  light  ar- 
tillery, under  the  command  of  lieutenant  Smith,  it  is  probable 
their  loss  must  have  been  comparatively  great.  Colonel  Scott, 
who  had  the  direction  of  our  troops  which  were  engaged, 
speaks  highly  of  the  ardour  and  steadiness  of  both  officers  and 
men.  Being  fought  in  detachments,  many  young  officers  had 
an  opportunity  of  evincing  their  activity  and  bravery.  To 
use  the  language  of  colonel  Scott,  u  this  affair,  though  small, 
served  to  test  the  merits  of  the  officers  and  men  engaged. 
More  ardour  has  seldom  been  displayed.  Captain  Vandeur- 
sen  fought  his  detachment  with  good  effect ;  and  captain  Madi- 
son, with  his  picket  guard,  was  fully  engaged.  They  could 
not  lose  their  ardour  under  major  Cummins.  Captain  Bird- 
sail's  riflemen  were  nearest  to  the  enemy  in  pursuit.  Major 
Armstrong  who  was  officer  of  the  day,  was  active  in  con- 
centrating and  arranging  the  troops  and  pickets.  Captain 
Towson,  of  the  artillery,  was  wounded  in  the  hand  while  vo- 
luntarily bearing  colonel  Scott's  orders ;  and  an  officer  of  the 
rifle  corps  was  slightly  wounded." 

Copies  of  Letters  from  Brigadier-General  Boyd  to  the 

Secretary  oj  War, 
Head- Quarters,  Fort  George,  August  17,  1813. 

Sir,  in  the  last  letter  which  I  had  the  honour  to  address  to 
you,  I  had  to  communicate  the  information  that  commodore 
Chauncey  had  left  this  part  of  the  lake  ;  yesterday  an  express 
arrived  from  the  Eighteen  Mile  Creek,  stating  that  he  was 
then  off  that  place,  in  pursuit  of  the  British  fleet,  which  was 
likewise  to  be  seen. 

A  body  of  volunteers,  militia  and  Indians,  under  command 
of  brigadier-general  Porter  of  the  New  York  militia,  having 
arrived  at  this  place,  and  very  impatient  to  engage  the  enemy, 
a  plan  was  this  morning  concerted  to  cut  off  one  of  his  pic- 
kets. About  300  volunteers  and  Indians,  under  the  command 
of  major  Chapin,  was  to  effect  this  object,  supported  by  200 
regulars  under  the  command  of  major  Cummings  of  the  16th 
infantry. 

A  heavy  rain,  and  other  untoward  circumstances,  defeated 
the  primary  object,  but  in  a  skirmish  that  ensued,  in  which 
the  enemy  was  completely  routed,  our  Indians  captured 
12  of  the  British  Indians,  and  four  whites.  Many  of  the 
enemy's  dead  were  left  on  the  field,  among  whom  is  supposed 
to  be  the  famous  chief,  Norton.  Our  loss  was  only  two  In- 
dians, and  a  few  slightly  wounded.  Those  who  participated 
in  this  contest,  particularly  the  Indians,  conducted  with  great 


248]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

bravery  and  activity.  General  Porter  volunteered  in  the  af- 
fair, and  major  Chapin  evinced  bis  accustomed  zeal  and 
courage.  The  regulars  under  major.  Cummings,  as  far  as 
they  were  engaged,  conducted  well.  The  principal  chiefs 
who  led  thewai  riors  this  day,  were  Farmer's  Brother,  Red  Jac- 
ket, Little  Billev,  Pollard,  Black  Snake,  Johnson,  Silver  Heels, 
captain  Halftown,  major  Henry  O.  Ball  (Cornplanter's  son) 
and  captain  Cold,  chief  of  Onondago,  who  was  wounded. 
In  a  council  which  was  held  with  them  yesterday,  they  cove- 
nanted not  to  scalp  or  murder ;  and  I  am  happy  to  say,  that 
they  treated  the  prisoners  with  humanity,  and  committed  no 
wanton  cruelties  upon  the  dead. 

The  Canadian  volunteers,  under  major  Wilcox,  were  ac- 
tive and  brave  as  usual. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

JNO.  P.  BO  YD,  Br?g.-Gen.  com. 
Hon.  John  Armstrong: 

Head- Quarters,  Fort  George,  Upper  Canada, 

August  18,  1813. 
Hon.  John  Armstrong. 

Sir,  yesterday  I  had  the  honour  to  address  to  you  a  letter 
detailing  the  conduct  of  the  Indians  in  a  late  skirmish.  Their 
bravery  and  humanity  were  equally  conspicuous.  Already 
the  quietness  in  which  our  pickets  are  suffered  to  remain, 
evinces  the  benefit  arising  from  their  assistance.  Permit  me 
to  suggest  the  propriety  of  immediately  depositing  presents 
for  them  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Graniger,  of  whose  exertions, 
and  those  of  Mr.  Parish,  I  must  express  my  entire  approba- 
tion. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  respectful  obedient  ser- 
vant, JOHN  P.  BOYD,  Brig.-Gen. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Brigadier-General  Boy  d  to  the  Secretary 

of  War,  dated 
Head- Barters,  Fort  George^  Ait  git  xt  24,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  report,  that  at  dav.  -break  this 
morning,  the  enemy  attacked  us  at  all  our  pickets,  which  re- 
tired towards  the  camp,  pursued  by  his  advance  guards.  A 
skirmish  ensued  in  the  village,  with  little  effect  upon  us ;  af- 
ter which  he  retreated,  having  come  within  reach  of  our  can- 
non, but  never  within  musket  shot  of  our  entrenchments. 

One  captain  of  the  49th  and  a  few  privates  have  been 
brought  in  prisoners.  We  lost  two  men.,  and  a  few  wounded  ; 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [249 

the  enemy  left  about  15  dead  on  the  different  grounds.  He  is 
supposed  to  have  brought  his  whole  force  into  the  field ;  but 
finding  our  position  so  strong,  desisted  from  a  general  attack. 
Sir  George  Prevost  was  in  person  at  the  attack.  His  force  is 
withdrawn  out  of  our  reach  into  his  strong  holds. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sk,  your  respectful,  obedient  ser- 
vant, 

JOHN  P.  BOYD,  Brig.-Gen. 
Hon.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  at  War. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Brigadier-General  M^Clure  to  his 
Excellency  Governor  Tompkins,  dated 

Fort  George,  half  past  5  o'clock, 

P.  M.,  6th  October,  1813. 

Since  writing  the  above  we  have  commenced  offensive 
operations  against  the  enemy.  About  50O  militia  volunteers 
and  about  15O  Indians,  commanded  by  colonel  Chapin,  at- 
tacked the  picket  guard  of  the  enemy  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  Fort  George,  and  drove  them  into  the  main- body,  when 
the  enemy  opened  a  fire  from  several  field-pieces.  Our  men 
retired  in  good  order  into  the  fort,  with  the  loss  pf  one  man 
killed  and  two  or  three  wounded.  The  enemy's  loss  was  se- 
ven killed,  many  wounded,  and  four  prisoners.  In  a  short 
time  the  enemy  appeared  in  considerable  force  within  50O 
yards  of  the  fort,  at  the  edge  of  the  woods;  Chapin  again 
sallied  out  with  about  300  men  and  some  Indians,  commen- 
ced a  brisk  fire  on  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  line,  and  drove 
them  half  a  mile — but  perceiving  by  the  movements  of  the 
enemy  that  they  would  outflank  us,  I  ordered  200  to  rein- 
force him,  and  in  two  detachments  to  attack  the  enemy's 
flank.  We  succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy  into  the  woods, 
when  night  coming  on  put  an  end  to  the  conflict.  Our  loss 
was  trifling;  I  have  not  ascertained  that  of  the  enemy.  Co- 
lonel Chapin  is  a  brave  man.  Every  officer  and  soldier  did 
his  duty. 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Upper  Province  of  Canada. 

Brigadier-general  M'Clure,  commanding  on  the  Niagara 
frontier,  finds  the  upper  province  deserted  by  the  British 
army,  and  abandoned  by  its  government — In  the  peculiar  si- 
tuation of  the  inhabitants,  it  is  essential  to  their  security  that 
some  regulation  should  be  established  for  their  government, 
while  the  American  army  has  the  power  of  enforcing  them. 
The  general  regrets  to  say,  that  illegal,  unauthorized,  and  for- 
bidden pillage  has  been  committed  by  a  few,  who  are  lost  to 


* 


250]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

all  honour,  and  insensible  of  the  obligations  of  a  soldier.  To 
arrest  such  practices,  to  afford  all  the  protection  in  his  power, 
and  to  ensure  safety  to  the  property  and  persons  of  the  in- 
habitants who  are  now  under  his  controul,  the  general  has 
issued  this  address. 

The  employment  of  the  Indians  has  been  a  source  of  ex- 
treme  regret  to  the  general — But  finding  them  called  out  by 
the  government  of  the  United  States,  and  expecting  to  at- 
tack an  army  who  had  long  employed  them  in  scenes  of  atro- 
city and  outrage,  at  which  humanity  shudders,  he  was  driven 
to  the  only  alternative  left  him  of  using  the 'same  weapon 

against  our  enemies  which  they  had  used  against  ourselves 

That  the  British  army  had  abandoned  their  encampments  and 
fled  before  the  American  force,  does  not  weaken  the  neces- 
sity which  he  was  under,  of  employing  the  Indians  before 
he  knew  that  the  enemy  had  absconded. — At  the  same  time, 
it  is  due  to  them  to  say,  that  the  Indians  have  conducted 
themselves  far  better  than  had  been  expected,  if  the  exam- 
ple of  the  British  officers  and  British  savages  be  a  criterion. 
Not  a  single  individual  has  been  scalped  or  tomahawked  by 
them,  no  prisoner  of  war  has  been  burnt,  the  dead  have  not 
'been  thrown  into  the  public  highways,  women  and  children 
have  not  been  massacred,  nor  has  private  property  been  de- 
stroyed except  in  cases  where  the  former  conduct  of  the 
owners  required  exemplary  retaliation.  The  property  which 
they  have  plundered,  was,  in  cases  where  it  was  possible, 
restored  to  the  inhabitants  at  the  expense  of  the  United  States, 
and  when  the  necessity  for  their  employment  ceased  to  exist, 
the  Indians  were  sent  to  the  American  side  of  the  river,  be- 
yond the  reach  of  temptation,  to  wait  until  circumstances  jus- 
tified another  call  upon  them. — The  relation  of  these  facts  is 
due  to  the  honour  of  our  government,  to  the  reputation  of 
the  general,  and  to  the  merits  of  the  Indians.  From  it  also, 
the  inhabitants  of  Canada  may  learn  what  they  may  expect 
from  American  forbearance  and  clemency. 

To  insure  that  forbearance,  the  inhabitants  have  an  easy 
duty  to  perform.  Let  them  be  perfectly  neutral,  let  them 
abstain  from  communications  with  the  British  army,  and  re- 
main at  home  quietly  pursuing  their  avocations.  Those  who 
conduct  differently  will  incur  the  penalties  of  rigorous  mar- 
tial law.  The  character  of  our  free  republican  government, 
and  the  nature  of  our  institutions,  will  justify  your  expecta- 
tion of  security  and  protection.  All  civil  magistrates  will 
continue  to  exercise  the  functions  of  their  offices  merely  as 
conservators  of  the  peace  ;  as  far  as  they  are  able,  they  will 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

preserve  order  and  quiet  among  the  inhabitants.  The  exist- 
ing laws  of  the  province,  so  far  as  they  regard  the  public 
peace,  and  not  interfering  with  the  regulations  of  the  army, 
will  be  considered  in  force  until  other  measures  are  taken. 
The  magistrates  are  particularly  required  to  give  information 
at  head-quarters,  of  all  violences  committed  by  American 
troops  on  citizens,  unless  they  are  authorize'd  by  a  written  or- 
der. The  general  enjoins  the  inhabitants  to  submit  to  their 
magistrates,  and  those  who  refuse  obedience  must  be  re- 
ported to  head-quarters.  The  brigadier-general  invites  all 
the  inhabitants  who  are  disposed  to  be  peaceable,  orderly,  and 
neutral,  to  return  to  their  homes  and  their  business.  He  can- 
not promise  complete  security,  but  he  engages  as  far  as  his 
power  extends,  to  protect  the  innocent,  the  unfortunate,  and 
the  distressed.  GEO.  M'CLURE, 

Commanding  Niagara  Frontier. 
Head- Quarter vs,  Fort  George,  October  16,  1813. 


SIEGE    OF    LOWER    SANDUSKY. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Major-General  Harrison  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  dated 
He  ad- Quarters,  Seneca  Town,  August  4, 1813. 

Sir,  in  my  letter  of  the  1st  intsant,  I  did  myself  the  ho- 
nour to  inform  you  that  one  of  my  scouting  parties  had  just 
returned  from  the  lake  shore,  and  had  discovered,  the  day 
before,  the  enemy  in  force  near  the  mouth  of  the  Sandusky 
bay.  The  party  had  not  passed  Lower  Sandusky  two  hours, 
before  the  advance,  consisting  of  Indians,  appeared  before 
the  fort,  and  in  half  an  hour  after  a  large  detachment  of  Bri- 
tish troops  ;  jfhd  in  the  course  of  the  night  they  commenced 
a  cannonading  against  the  fort  with  three  six-pounders  and 
two  howitzers ;  the  latter  from  gun-boats.  The  firing  was 
partially  answered  by  major  Croghan,  having  a  six-pounder, 
the  only  piece  of  artillery. 

The  fire  of  the  enemy  was  continued  at  intervals,  during 
the  second  instant,  until  about  half  after  five,  P.  M.,  when, 
finding  that  their  cannon  made  little  impression  upon  the 
works,  and  having  discovered  my  position  here,  and  appre- 
hending an  attack,  an  attempt  was  made  to  carry  the  place  by 
storm.  Their  troops  were  formed  in  two  columns  ;  lieutenant- 
colonel  Short  headed  the  principal  one,  composed  of  the  light 
and  battalion  companies  of  the  41st  regiment. 


252]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

This  gallant  officer  conducted  his  men  to  the  brink  of  the 
ditch,  under  the  most  galling  and  destructive  fire  from  the 
garrison,  and  leaping  into  it  was  followed  by  a  considerable 
part  of  his  own  and  the  light  company ;  at  this  moment  a 
masked  port  hole  was  suddenly  opened,  and  a  six-pounder 
with  a  half  load  of  powder  and  double  charge  of  leaden 
slugs,  at  the  distance  of  30  feet,  poured  destruction  upon 
them,  and  killed  or  wounded  nearly  every  man  who  had  en- 
tered.the  ditch.  In  vain  did  the  British  officers  exert  them- 
selves to  lead  on  the  balance  of  the  column ;  it  retired  in  dis- 
order under  a  shower  of  shot  from  the  fort,  and  sought  safety 
in  the  adjoining  woods.  The  other  column  headed  by  the 
grenadiers  had  also  retired,  after  having  suffered  from  the 
muskets  of  our  men,  to  an  adjacent  ravine.  In  the  course  of 
the  night,  the  enemy,  with  the  aid  of  their  Indians,  drew  off 
the  greater  part  of  the  wounded  and  dead,  and  embarking 
them  in  boats  descended  the  river  with  the  utmost  precipi- 
tation. In  the  course  of  the  2d  instant,  having  heard  the 
cannonading^  I  made  several  attempts  to  ascertain  the  force 
and  situation  of  the  enemy ;  our  scouts  were  unable  to  get 
near  the  fort,  from  the  Indians  which  surrounded  it.  Find- 
ing however,  that  the  enemy  had  only  light  artillery,  and  be- 
ing well  convinced  that  it  could  make  little  impression  upon 
the  works,  and  that  any  attempt  to  storm  it  would  be  resisted 
with  effect,  I  waited  for  the  arrival  of  250  mounted  volun- 
teers, which  on  the  evening  before  had  left  Upper  Sandusky. 
But  as  soon  as  I  was  informed  that  the  enemy  were  retreat- 
ing, I  set  out  with  the  dragoons  to  endeavour  to  overtake 
them,  leaving  generals  M' Arthur  and  Cass  to  follow  with  all 
the  infantry  (about  700)  that  could  be  spared  from  the  pro- 
tection of  the  stores  and  sick  at  this  place.  I  found  it  im- 
possible to  come  up  with  them.  Upon  my  arrival  at  Sandus- 
ky, I  was  informed  by  the  prisoners  that  tK^iemy's  forces 
consisted  of  490  regular  troops,  and  500  of  Dixon's  Indians, 
commanded  by  general  Proctor  in  person,  and  that  Tecum- 
seh,  with  about  2000  warriors,  was  somewhere  in  the  swamps, 
between  this  and  Fort  Meigs,  expecting  my  advancing,  or 
that  of  a  convoy  of  provisions. 

As  there  was  no  prospect  of  doing  any  thing  in  front,  and 
being  apprehensive  that  Tecumseh  might  destroy  the  stores 
and  small  detachments  in  my  rear,  I  sent  orders  to  general 
Cass,  who  commanded  the  reserve,  to  fall  back  to  this  place, 
and  to  general  M'Arthur  with  the  front  line  to  follow  and 
support  him.  I  remained  at  Sandusky  until  the  parties  that 
were  sent  out  in  every  direction  returned — not  an  enemy  was 
to  be  seen. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [253 

am  sorry  that  I  cannot  transmit  you  major  Croghan's 
official  report.  He  was  to  have  sent  it  to  me  this  morning, 
but  I  have  just  heard  that  he  was  so  much  exhausted  by 
36  hours  of  continued  exertion  as  to  he  unable  to  make  it. 
It  will  not  be  amongst  the  least  of  general  Proctor's  mortifi- 
cations to  find  that  he  has  been  baffled  by  a  youth  who  has 
just  passed  his  twenty-first  year.  He  is,  however,  a  hero 
worthy  of  his  gallant  uncle  (general  George  R.  Clark). 

Captain  Hunter,  of  the  17th  regiment,  the  second  in  com- 
mand, conducted  himself  with  great  propriety  ;  and  never 
were  a  set  of  finer  young  fellows  than  the  subalterns,  viz. 
lieutenants  Johnson  and  Baylor  of  the  17th,  Anthony  of  the 
3 1th,  Meeks  of  the  7th,  and  ensigns  Shipp  and  Duncan  of 
the  17th. 

The  following  account  of  the  unworthy  artifice  and  con- 
duct of  the  enemy  will  excite  your  indignation — major 
Chambers  was  sent  by  general  Proctor,  accompanied  by  co- 
lonel Elliott,  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  fort.  They 
were  met  by  ensign  Shipp.  The  major  observed,  that  gene- 
ral Proctor  had  a  number  of  cannon,  a  large  body  of  regular 
troops,  and  so  many  Indians  whom  it  was  impossible  to  con- 
troul ;  and  if  the  fort  was  taken,  as  it  must  be,  the  whole  of 
the  garrison  would  be  massacred.  Mr.  Shipp,  answered, 
that  it  was  the  determinntion  of  major  Croghan,  his  officers 
and  men,  to  defend  the  garrison  or  be  buried  in  it ;  and  that 
they  might  do  their  best.  Colonel  Elliott  then  addressed 
Mr.  Shipp,  and  so  id,  u  you  are  a  fine  young  man  ;  I  pity  your 
situation  ;  for  God's  sake  surrender,  and  prevent  the  dread- 
ful slaughter  that  must  follow  resistance."  Shipp  turned  from 
him  with  indignation,  and  was  immediately  taken  hold  of  by 
an  Indian,  who  attempted  to  wrest  his  sv/ord  from  him. 
liott  pretended  to  exert  himself  to  release  him,  and  expressed 
great  anxiety  to  get  him  safe  in  the  fort. 

I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  you  a  copy  of  the  first  note 
received  from  major  Croghan.  It  was  written  before  day  ; 
and  it  has  since  been  ascertained,  that  of  the  enemy  there  re- 
mained in  the  ditch  one  lieutenant-colonel  one  lieutenant  and 
25  privates :  .the  number  of  prisoners,  one  serjeant  and  25  pri- 
vates; 14  of  them  badly  wounded :  every  care  has  been  ta- 
ken of  the  latter,  and  the  officers  buried  with  the  honours  due 
to  their  rank  and  bravery.  All  the  dead  that  were  nor  in  the 
ditch,  were  taken  off  in  the  night  by  the  Indians.  It  is  im- 
possible, from  the  circumstances  of  the  attack,  that  they 
should  have  lost  less  than  100.  Some  of  the  prisoners  think 
that  it  amounted  to  20O.  A  young  gentleman,  a  private  in 

vbr.  T.  PART  TT.  [  L  1 


254] 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 


the  Petersburg  volunteers,  of  the  name  of  Brown,  assiste 
by  five  or  six  of  that  company,  and  of  the  Pittsburg  blue 
who  were  accidentally  in  the  fort,  managed  the  six-pounde 
which  produced  such  destruction  in  the  ranks  of  the  enem 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

WM.  HENRY  HARRISON. 

N.  B.  Of  our  few  wounded  men  there  is  but  one  that  wil 
not  be  well  in  less  than  six  days. 

(Major  Crovharfs  Note.} 


Lorver  Sandusky,  August  3,  1813. 

Dear  sir,  the  enemy  made  an  attempt  to  storm  us  last  eve 
ing,  but  was  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  at  least  100  kille 
wounded,  and  prisoners.     One  lieutenant-colonel  (lieutenant 
colonel  Short),  a  major,  and  a  lieutenant,  with  about  40  pri- 
vates, are  dead  in  our  ditch.     I  have  lost  but  one  in  killed, 
and  but  few  wounded.    Further  statements  will  be  made  you 
by  the  bearer. 

GEO.  CROGHAN,  Major, 

Commanding  Fort  Sandusky. 

N.  B.  Since  writing  the  above,  two  soldiers  of  the  41st 
regiment  have  got  in,  who  state  that  the  enemy  have  retreated. 
In  fact,  one  of  their  gun-boats  is  within  SCO  yards  of  our 
works,  said  to  be  loaded  with  camp-equipage,  &c.  which  they 
in  their  hurry  have  left. 

GEO.  CROGHAN. 

From  General  Harrison  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Head-quarters.  Seneca  Toirn, 
5th  Augttst,  181  3-—  6  o'clock,  A.  M. 

I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  you  major  Croghan's  report 
of  the  attack  upon  his  fort,  which  has  this  moment  come  to 
hand.  Fortunately  the  mail  has  not  closed. 

With  great  respect,  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  hum- 
ble servant, 

WM.  HENRY  HARRISON. 

(Copy.} 

Lower  Sdndusky,  August  5,  1813. 

Dear  sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  the  com- 
bined forces  of  the  cnemv,  amounting  to  at  least  500  regu- 
lars and  700  or  800  Imlurtis,  tinder  the  immediate  command 
ol  general  Proctor,  made  its  appearance  before  this  place, 
early  on  Sunday  evening  last,  and  sosoou  as  the  general  had 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [255 

made  such  disposition  of  his  troops  as  would  cut  off  ray  re- 
treat, should  I  be  disposed  to  make  one,  he  sent  colonel  Elli- 
ott, accompanied  by  major  Chambers,  with  a  flag,  to  de- 
mand the  surrender  of  the  fort,  as  he  was  anxious  to  spare 
the  effusion  of  blood,  which  he  should  probably  not  have  in 
his  power  to  do,  should  he  be  reduced  to  tKe  necessity  of 
taking  the  place  by  storm.  My  answer  to  the  summons  was, 
that  I  was  determined  to  defend  the  place  to  the  last  extre- 
mity, and  that  no  force,  however  large,  should  induce  me  to 
surrender  it.  So  soon  as  the  flag  had  returned,  a  brisk  fire 
was  opened  upon  us  from  the  gun -boats  in  the  river,  and  from 
a5i  inch  howitzer  on  shore,  which  was  kept  up  with  little  in- 
termission throughout  the  night.  At  an  early  hour  the  next 
morning,  three  sixes  (which  had  been  placed  during  the 
night  within  250  yards  of  the  pickets)  began  to  play  upon  us 
with  liule  effect.  About  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  discovering  that 
the  fire  from  all  his  guns  was  concentrated  against  the  north- 
western angle  of  the  fort,  I  became  confident  that  his  object 
was  to  make  a  breach,  and  attempt  to  storm  the  works  at  that 
point,  I  therefore  ordered  out  as  many  men  as  could  be  em- 
ployed for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  that  part,  which  was 
so  effectually  secured  by  means  of  bags  of  flour,  sand,  &c.  that 
the  picketing  suffered  little  or  no  injury;  notwithstanding 
which  the  enemy,  about  500,  having  formed  in  close  olumn, 
advanced  to  assault  our  works  at  the  expected  point,  at  the 
same  time  making  two  feints  on  the  front  of  captain  Hun- 
ter's lines.  The  column  which  advanced  against  the  north- 
western angle,  consisting  of  about  350  men,  was  so  completely 
enveloped  in  smoke,  as  not  to  be  discovered  until  it  had  ap- 
proached within  18  or  20  paces  of  the  lines,  but  the  men  be- 
ing all  at  their  posts  and  ready  to  receive  it,  commenced  so 
heavy  and  galling  a  fire  as  to  throw  the  column  a  little  into 
confusion  ;  being  quickly  rallied,  it  advanced  to  the  outer 
works,  and  began  to  leap  into  the  ditch.  Just  at  that  nio^- 
ment  a  fire  of  grape  was  opened  from  our  six-pounder  (which 
had  been  previously  arranged  so  as  to  rake  in  that  direction) 
which,  together  with  the  musketry,  threw  them  into  such 
confusion  that  they  were  compelled  to  retire  precipitately  to 
the  woods. 

During  the  assault,  which  lasted  about  half  an  hour,  an  inces- 
sant fire  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy's  artillery  (which  consisted 
of  five  sixes  and  a  howitzer)  but  without  effect.  My  whole 
loss  during  the  siege,  was  one  killed  and  seven  wounded, 
slightly.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded  and  pri- 
soners, must  exceed  150:  one  lieutenant-colonel,  a  lieutenant, 


256] 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 


and  5O  rank  and  file  were  found  in  and  about  the  ditch,  dead 
ox  wounded. — Those  of  the  remainder  who  were  not  able  to 
escape  were  taken  off  during  the  night  by  Indians.  Seventy 
stand  of  arms,  and  several  brace  of  pistols  have  been  col- 
lected near  the  works.  About  three  in  the  morning  the  ene- 
my sailed  clown  the  river,  leaving  behind  them  a  boat,  con- 
taining clothing  and  considerable  military  stores. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  bestowed  on  the  officers,  non- 
commissioned officers,  and  privates  under  my  command,  for 
their  gallantry  and  good  conduct  during  the  siege. 

Yours,  with  respect, 

(Signed)  G.  CROGHAN, 

Major  17th  United  States'  Inf.  com.  L.  S. 
Major-General  Harrison,  commanding  N.  W.  Army. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  British  General  Proctor  to  General 

Harrison. 

Amherstburg,  August  7th,  1813. 

Sir,  the  bearer,  lieutenant  Le  Breton,  in  the  service  of  his 
Britannic  majesty,  I  send  under  a  flag  of  truce,  with  surgi- 
cal aid,  of  which  you  may  nothave  a  sufficiency,  for  the  brave 
soldiers  who  were  too  severely  wounded  to  come  off,  or  who 
may  have  lost  their  way  after  the  unsuccessful  attack  made 
on  the  2d  instant,  on  the  fort  at  Satulusky. 

Expecting  every  consideration  from  the  brave  soldier  for  a 
wounded  enemy,  I  flatter  myself  that  those  prisoners  in  your 
possession  and  who  can  be  removed  without  injury,  will  be 
permitted  to  return  here  on  my  parole  of  honour,  that  they 
shall  not  serve  until  truly  and  regularly  exchanged. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient  and  hum- 
ble servant, 

HENRY  PROCTOR. 

The  Officer  commanding  the  Fort  at  Sanditsky. 
• 

General  Harrison's  Reply. 
Head-Quarters,  8th  Military  District  of  the  United  States, 

August  1O,  1813. 

Sir,  your  letter  addressed  to  the  officer  commanding  at 
Lower  Sandusky,  was  forwarded  from  thence  to  me,  and  re- 
ceived this  moment.  Upon  my  arrival  at  Fort  Sanduskv  on 
the  morning  of  the  3d  instant,  I  found  that  major  Croghun, 
conformably  to  those  principles  which  are  held  sacred  in  the 
American  army,  h^d  caused  all  the  care  to  be  taken  of  the 
wi  i.nded  prisoners  .'hat  Ins  situation  would  permit.  Hav  ng 
with  me  my  hospital  sur^ton,  he  was  particularly  charged  to 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [257 

attend  to  them,  and  I  am  warranted  in  the  belief  that  every 
aid  that  surgical  skill  could  give  was  afforded — They  have 
been  liberally  furnished  too  with  every  article  necessary  in 
their  situation  which  our  hospital  stores  could  supply. 

Having  referred  to  my  .government  for  orders  respecting 
the  disposition  of  the  prisoners,  I  cannot  with  propriety  com- 
ply with  your  request  tor  an  immediate  exchange. 

But  I  assure  you,  sir,  that  as  far  as  it  depends  upon  me, 
the  course  of  treatmen;  which  has  been  commenced  towards 
them,  whilst  in  my  possession,  will  be  continued. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  humble  servant, 

WM".  HENRY  HARRISON, 

Major-General  commanding  8th  U.  S.   Military  District. 
Brig. -Gen.  Proctor,  commanding  the  British  Forces 
at  Amherstburg,  &c. 


OPERATIONS    OF    THE    BLOCKADING    SQUADRON. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  John  Cassin  to  the  Secretary 

of  the  Navy. 
Navy  Tard,  Gosport,  June  21,  1813. 

Sir,  on  Saturday  at  11,  P,  M.,  captain  Tarb'ell  moved  with 
the  flotilla  under  his  command,  consisting  of  15  gun-boats,  in 
two  divisions,  lieutenant  John  M.  Gardner  1st  division,  and 
lieutenant  Robert  Henley  the  2d,  manned  from  the  frigate, 
and  50  musketeers  general  Taylor  ordered  from  Craney 
Island,  and  proceeded  down  the  river;  but  adverse  winds 
and  squalls  prevented  his  approaching  the  entmv  until  Sun- 
day morning  at  4,  P.  M.,  when  th  flotilla  commenced  a  hea- 
vy galling  fire  on  a  frigate,  at  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile 
distance,  lying  well  up  the  roads,  two  other  frigates  lying 
in  sight. 

At  half  past  four  a  breeze  sprung  up  from  E.  N.  E.  which 
enabled  the  two  frigates  to  get  under  wav,  one  a  razee  or 
very  heavy  ship,  and  the  other  n  frigate,  to  come  nearer  into 
action.  The  boats  in  consequence  of  their  approach  hauled 
off,  though  keeping  up  a  well-directed  fire  on  tht  razee  and 
other  ship,  which  gave  us  several  broadsides.  The  frigate 
first  engaged,  supposed  to  be  the  Junon,  v.  as  certainly  very 
severely  handled — had  the  calm  continued  one  half  hour  that 
frigate  must  have  fallen,  into  our  hands  or  been  destroyed. 
She  must  have  slipt  her  mooring  so  as  to  drop  nearer  the  ra- 
gee,  who  had  all  sails  set  coming  up  to  her  with  the  other 


a$B]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

frigate.  The  action  continued  one  hour  and  a  half  with  the 
three  ships.  Shortly  after  the  action,  the  razee  got  along 
side  of  the  ship,  and  had  her  upon  a  deep  careen  in  a  little 
time  with  a  number  of  boats  and  stages  round  her.  I  am 
satisfied  considerable  damage  was  done  to  her,  for  she  was 
silenced  some  time,  until  the  razee  opened  her  fire,  when  she 
commenced  again. 

Our  loss  is  very  trifling,  Mr.  AUinson,  master's  mate  on 
board  No.  139,  was  killed  early  in  the  action  by  an  18-pound 
ball,  which  passed  through  him  and  lodged  in  the  mast.  No. 
154  had  a  shot  between  wind  and  water.  No.  67,  had  her 
franklin  shot  away,  and  several  of  them  had  some  of  their 
sweeps  as  well  as  their  stanchion  shot  away,  but  two  men  slight- 
ly injured  by  the  splinters  from  the  sweeps  ;  on  the  flood  tide 
several  ships  of  the  line  and  frigates  came  into  the  roads  and 
we  did  expect  an  attack  last  night.  There  are  now  in  the 
roads,  13  ships  of  the  line  and  frigates,  one  brig,  and  several 
tenders. 

I  cannot  say  too  much  for  the  officers  and  crew  on  this  oc- 
casion:  for  every  man  appeared  to  go  into  action  with  so 
much  cheerfulness,  apparently,  to  do  their  duty,  resolved  to 
conquer.  I  had  a  better  opportunity  of  discovering  their  ac- 
tions than  any  one  else,  being  in  my  boat  the  whole  of  the 
action.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

JOHN  CASSIN. 
The  Hon.  Win*  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  General  Tat/lor  to  the  Secretary  at  War. 
Head  £>jiarters,  Norfolk..  4t/i  Jidy. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  colonel  Beatty's  report  of 
the  attack  on  Craney  Island,  on  the  22d  of  June  last.  His 
multiplied  and  pressing  avocations  have  prevented  his  com- 
pleting it  till  to  day. 

The  whole  force  on  the  island  at  the  time  of  the  attack, 
consisted  of  50  riflemen,  446  infantry  of  the  line,  91  state 
artillery,  and  150  seamen  and  marines  furnished  by  capt  n 
Tarbell.  Of  these  43  were  on  the  sick  list. 

The  courage  and  constancy  with  which  this  inferior  force, 
in  the  face  of  a  formidable  naval  armament,  not  only  sustain- 
ed a  position  in  which  nothing  was  complete,  but  repelled 
the  enemy  with  considerable  loss,  cannot  fail  to  inspire  the 
approbation  of  their  government  and  the  applause  oi  their 
country.  It  has  infused  into  the  residue  of  the  army  a  gene- 
ral spirit  of  competition,  the  ben^  filial  effects  of  which  will, 
I  trust,  be  employed  at  our  future  combats. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [259 

I  cannot  withhold  my  grateful  acknowledgments  to  com- 
modore Cassin,  captain  Tarbell,  and  the  officers  and  crews 
of  the  Constellation  and  gun-boats,  who  have  in  every  in- 
stance aided  our  operations  with  a  cordiality,  zeal,  and  abili- 
ty, not  to  be  surpassed. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant,  ROBERT  TAYLOR, 

Brigadier-General  commanding' 
Hon.  John  Armstrong^  Secretary  of  War. 

Copy  of  Colonel  Beqtty's  Report  to  General  Taylor. 

Craney  Mand,  June  25,  1813. 

Sir,  some  movements  on  the  21st  instant,  among  the  Bri- 
tish shipping,  lying  near  Newport's  Noose,  seemed  to  indi- 
cate an  early  attack  on  this  island,  and  in  the  course  of  the 
next  morning,  on  the  22d  instant,  they  landed  two  miles  from 
this,  from  the  best  accounts  that  can  be  ascertained  from  de- 
serters, 250O  troops  of  various  descriptions.  The  object  of 
this  movement  was,  no  doubt,  with  the  view  to  approach  this 
post  on  the  west  side  of  the  island,  across  the  water  in  that 
direction,  which  at  low  water  is  passable  by  infantry.  Soon 
after  their  landing,  there  approached  about  45  or  50  boats 
full  of  men,  which  directed  their  course  from  the  shipping 
as  above  stated,  to  the  north  side  of  the  island. 

The  British  troops,  at  the  same  tim<  (that  were  previously 
landed),  made  their  appearance  on  the  main  land  with  a  view 
of  attacking  the  west  and  north  positions  of  the  island  at  the 
same  moment.  Two  twenty-four-pounders  and  four  six- 
pounders  were  advantageously  posted  under  the  direction  of 
major  Faulkner  of  the  artillery,  which  being  so  well  served 
by  captain  Emerson,  lieutenants  Howell  and  Goodwin,  who 
displayed  that  cool  and  deliberate  conduct,  which  will  at  all 
times  insure  success  to  the  cause  in  which  they  are  engaged. 
Lieutenant  Neale,  of  the  Constellation,  during  our  deft-nee, 
conducting  himself  with  active  zeal  and  courage,  which  at 
all  times  add  a  lustre  to  the  name  of  an  American  naval  of- 
ficer. Captain  Rook,  of  the  ship  Manhattan,  conducted  him- 
self with  great  activity  and  judgment  in  defence  of  the  place, 
which  will  no  doubt  give  him  a  distinguished  part  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  day.  Great  praise  is  also  due  to  the  conduct  of 
serjeant  Young  and  corporal  Moffit  of  captain  Emerson's 
company,  for  the  active  part  they  took  in  the  management  of 
two  six-pounders. 

Much  credit  is  due  to  captain  Tarbell,  of  the  Constella- 
tion, for  the  aid  he  gave  in  defence  of  the  island,  in  forward- 


260]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

ing  from  his  ship  15O  sailors  and  marines,  with  the  officers 
commanding  the  same,  which  no  doubt  contributed  greatly 
in  the  successful  defence  of  the  island.  Indeed,  both  officers 
and  soldiers  of  every  description  showed  a  degree  of  zeal 
for  the  defence  of  the  place  ;  and  when  opportunity  may  of- 
fer, we  may  confidently  hope  they  will  not  be  wanting  in  du- 
ty. The  loss  of  the  enemy  cannot  be  less  than  200  in  the 
course  of  the  day,  a  number  of  which  were  killed  on  the  land 
side  by  our  artillery.  But  it  is  known  that  four  or  five  of  their 
barges  were  sunk,  one  of  which,  the  Centepiede,  said  to  be 
52  feet  long,  working  twenty-four  oars,  belonging  to  admiral 
Warren's  ship,  was  taken  and  brought  in  with  twenty-two 
prisoners,  and  a  small  brass  three-pounder,  with  a  number  of 
small  arms,  pistols,  and  cutlasses. 

Beside  the  loss  in  killed,  there  must  have  been  at  least  40 
deserters  brought  in,  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  dispersed 
through  the  country. 

It  is  with  pleasure  I  have  to  state  to  you  that  not  a  man 
was  lost  on  our  part ;  the  only  weapon  made  use  of  by  the 
enemy  in  the  course  of  the  day  were  the  Congreve  rockets,  a. 
few  of  which  fell  in  our  encampment,  though  without  injury. 

I  am,  sir,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  humble  servant, 

H.  BEAT  1Y,  Lieut. -Col.  com. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Major  Crutchfield  to  his  Excellency 
James  Barbour,  Governor  of  Virginia. 
Tork  County,  Half-way  House,  June  28,  1813. 

Sir,  although  I  have  given  you,  by  two  communications,  a 
partial  account  of  the  engagement  with  the  enemy  at  Hamp- 
ton, on  the  25th  instant,  I  will  now,  having  it  more  in  my  pow- 
er, beg  leave  to  communicate  to  your  excellency  a  detail  of 
the  occurrences  of  the  day. 

At  an  early  period  of  the  morning  on  the  25th  instant,  our 
Mill-creek  patrole  gave  information  that  from  30  to  40  Bri- 
tish barges  filled  with  men  were  approaching  the  mouth  of 
Hampton  creek  by  the  inner  channel,  from  the  direction  of 
Newport's  Noose.  Our  troops  were  immediately  formed  on 
their  encampment,  on  Little  England  plantation,  south  west 
of,  and  divided  from  Hampton  by  a  narrow  creek,  over  which 
a  slight  foot-bridge  had  been  erected.  In  a  short  time  after, 
our  Celey's  patroie  reported  the  landing  and  approach  of  a 
number  of  the  enemy's  troops  in  our  rear.  A  little  after  five 
o'clock,  several  barges  were  seen  approaching  Black-beard's 
Point,  the  headmost  of  which  commenced  a  firing  of  round 
shot,  which  was  immediatclv  returned  from  our  battery  of 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

long  12-pounders.  The  enemy,  intimidated  by  the  quick 
and  direct  fire  of  our  cannon,  drew  back  and  sheltered  him- 
self behind  the  point ;  and  from  thence  continued  to  throw 
his  round  12  and  18-pound  shots,  accompanied  by  a  great 
number  of  rockets,  charged  with  combustible  matter,  which, 
with  very  few  exceptions,  and  those  without  injurious  effect 
upon  our  detachment  or  encampment,  either  fell  short  of,  or 
over-reached  their  object.  For  the  space  of  three  quarters 
of  an  hour  or  more,  during  which  time  an  exchange  of  dis- 
charges took  place  without  the  enemy's  doing  any  damage  ~, 
our  infantry  troops  were  posted  under  cover  of  a  high  ditch, 
immediately  in  front  of  our  camp.  During  this  period, 
many  rockets  and  large  shots  fell  within  our  encampment,, 
At  this  time  our  rifle  company,  which,  upon  the  earliest  in- 
formation of  the  enemy's  approach  by  land,  had  been  des- 
patched to  conceal  themselves  in  the  woods,  near  iht  road, 
by  which  it  was  supposed  the  enemy  was  approaching,  com- 
menced a  well-directed  and  destructive  fire  on  the  head  of 
the  invading  columns.  Being  now  well  satisfied  as  to  the 
point  of  attack  on  us  from  the  land  side,  and  discovering, 
from  the  timidity  of  the  enemy  in  his  barges,  that  no  land- 
ing was  intended  to  be  made  on  our  water  position,  and 
knowing  that  our  rifle  corps,  from  its  great  inferiority  to  the 
enemy,  was  in  a  very  critical  situation,  I  marched  with  the 
infantry  under  my  command  to  the  point  of  attack,  in  order 
to  support  it,  as  well  as  to  annoy  the  enemy  in  his  approach, 
and  prevent  his  making  an  attack  in  our  rear,  advantageous 
to  his  views,  and  in  aid  of  his  intention,  to  surround  and  cut 
us  off  from  retreat. 

We  advanced  in  columns  of  platoons  through  a  lane  and 
an  open  cornfield  which  led  from  our  encampment  to  the  ene- 
my, and  to  the  Main  and  Celey's  roads — and  when  in  the 
field  within  200  yards  of  the  gate  opening  into  the  Celey 
road  and  a  thicket  of  pines,  v/e  were  fired  upon  by  the  ene- 
my's musketry  from  a  thick  wood  at  the  upper  end  of  a  field 
immediately  bordering  on  the  road.  Upon  this  discharge 
orders  were  given  to  wheel  to  the  left  into  line  and  march 
upon  the  enemy.  In  this  position  we  had  marched  not  more 
than  50  yards,  when  the  enemy  opened  upon  us  two  six- 
pound  field-pieces  loaded  with  grape  and  cannister  shot,  and 
his  machines  filled  with  rockets  of  a  small  sine.  Upon  this 
sudden,  and  to  our  whole  detachment,  totally  unexpected  at- 
tack with  ordnance,  1  deemed  it  necessary  to  wheel  again 
into  column,  and  gain,  if  possible,  a  passage  through  the 
gate  defile,  with  a  position  In  the  woods  immediately 
,  I.  PART.  II.  '  ^r 


262J 


HISTORICAL  REGISTEX. 


the  ground  occupied  by  the  rifle  corps,  which  kept  the 
in  check  in  that  quarter  by  its  deadly  discharges  under  the 
direction  of  captain  Servant,  who  with  his  brave  officers  and 
soldiers,  acted  in  a  manner  worthy  of  veterans.  At  this  tirm 
captain  Cooper  (a  most  vigilant,  brave  and  skilful  officer), 
with  his  brave  troops,  although  much  worn  down  with  the 
fatigue  of  patroling  and  other  duties,  were  active!}'  and  closely 
engaged  in  annoying  the  enemy's  left  flank,  and  would  have 
been  cut  off  but  for  his  superior  judgment.  The  column  was 
formed  with  all  the  celerity  which  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
(a  soft  and  newly  ploughed  field) — the  advantageous  situa- 
tion of  the  enemy,  aided  by  his  sheltered  position — and  the 
partly-disciplined  experience  of-  our  troops,  would  admit. 
During  the  time  occupied  by  the  change  of  position,  in  our 
detachment,  and  its  march  through  the  defile,  a  continued  fire 
on  us  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy.  On  our  reaching  and  pass- 
ing the  road  into  the  wood,  the  grape  shot  from  a  third 
field-piece  commenced  its  fire  on  us,  which  together  with 
that  from  the  two  former,  threw  the  platoons  of  our  column 
into  confusion  and  retreat.  A  few  of  our  leading  platoons 
headed  by  major  Corbin  and  myself,  wheeled  promptly  into 
the  wood,  and  formed  on  the  flanks  of  our  riflemen,  under  a 
1ic:;vy  and  continued  discharge  of  the  enemy's  cannon,  mus- 
ket; v,  and  rockets.  The  action  was  now  for  a  short  time  kept 
up  with  warmth  and  spirit,  both  on  the  part  of  the  enemy, 
and  of  our  riflemen  p.ncl  leading  infantry  platoons,  commanded 
by  captain  Shield  and  captain  Herndon,  with  their  subalterns 
in  the  first  division  of  the  battalion.  Captains  Ashby,  Brown, 
Miller,  and  Carey, with  captain  Goodallofthe  United  State? 
regiment  of  artillery,  who  volunteered  on  this  occasion,  com- 
manded the  remaining  divisions  of  the  detachment,  and  acted- 
\vith  great  courage  and  coolness. 

In  this  sharp  and  trying  contest,  major  Corbin  received  in 
his  left  arm  and  leg  two  severe  .wounds,  with  a  musket  ball 
in  the  neck  of  his  horse.  My  efforts,  aided  by  the  brave  ad- 
jutant Robert  Anderson  'and  lieutenant  P.  Armistead,  (both 
of  whom,  notwithstanding  their  exposed  situation  in  exerting 
themselves  to  rally  the  troops,  escaped  beyond  expectation  ^ 
and  who,  for  their  skill  and  undaunted  firmness,  deserve 
much  of  their  country),  were  directed  to  rallying  the  rear 
and  retreating  platoons  o  the  detachment,  which  were  dis- 
persing in  i- very  direction,  while  a  lar^t-  body  of  the  en 
n  to  outflank,  and  cu'  letreat.  it 

,-y  for   ;i.U  'M>T   tro;. 

,-ted  fire 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [263 

the  enemy,  who  pursued  for  two  miles  with  little  loss  on  our 
part,  while  our  men,  occasionally  stopping  at  a  fence  or  ditch, 
at  every  fire  brought  down  one  of  the  pursuing  foe. 

Captain  Pryor  with  his  lieutenants  Lively  and  Jones,  and 
his  brave,  active  matrosses,  after  slaughtering  many  of  the 
enemy  with  his  field-pieces,  remained  on  the  ground  till  sur- 
rounded— and  when  the  enemy  was  within  60  or  70  yards  of 
the  fort,  they  spiked  the  guns,  broke  through  the  enemy's 
rear,  and  by  swimming  a  creek  made  good  their  retreat  with- 
out losing  a  man,  taking  with  them  their  carbines,  and  hiding 
them  in  the  woods.  Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  this 
band  of  heroes. 

From  accounts  which  can  be  most  relied  upon, -the  enemy 
landed  and  had  drawn  up  in  battle  array  at  least  2500  men. — 
Their  loss  cannot  be  less  lhan  200,  and  is  believed  to  be  half 
as  many  more.  Our  little  force  was  349  infantty  and  rifle- 
men, 62  artillery,  and  25  c%ralry.  The  loss  on  our  part  is  7 
killed,  12  wounded,  1  prisoner,  and  11  missing,  who  are 
believed  to  be  in  the  neighbourhood  with  their  families. 

To  give  you,  sir,  an  idea  of  the  savage-like  disposition  of 
the  enemy  on  their  getting  possession  of  the  neighbourhood, 
would  be  a  vain  attempt.  Although  sir  Sydney  Beckwith 
assured  me  that  no  uneasiness  need  be  felt  in  relation  to  the 
unfortunate  Americans ;  the  fact  is  that  on  yesterday  there 
were  several  dead  bodies  lying  unburied,  and  the  wounded 
not  even  assisted  into  town,  although  observed  to  be  crawl- 
ing through  the  fields  towards  a  cold  and  inhospitable  pro- 
tection. 

The  unfortunate  females  of  Hampton  who  could  not  leave 

e  town  were   suffered  to  be  reused  in  the  most  shameful 
nner,  not  only  the  venal  savage  foe,  but  by  the  unfortunate 

d  infatuated  blacks,  who  were  encouraged  in  their  excesses. 
They  pillaged  and  encouraged  every  act  of  rapine  and  mur- 
der, killing  a  poor  man  by  the  name  ofjtirby  who  had  been 
lying  on  his  bed  at  the  point  of  death  fofrnorethan  six  weeks, 
shooting  his  wife  in  the  hip  at  the  same  time,  and  killing  his 
faithful  dog  lying  under  his  feet.  The  murdered  Kirby  was 
lying  last  night  weltering  in  his  bed. 

I  shall  return  to  Hampton  this  evening  or  in  the  morning 
with  the  troops  under  my  command,  and  such  reinforce- 
ments as  may  reach  me,  where  we  will  endeavour  to  make 
another  stand.  The  enemy  evacuated  the  town  at  3  o'clock 
yesterday  morning.  I  am,  very  respectfullv,  &c. 

STA.  CRUTCHFIELD, 
ffis  Excellency  Gov.  Barbonr. 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

' 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  General  Taylor  to  Admiral  ; 
dated  Head-quarters^  Norfolk',  29fA  June,  1813. 

I  have  heard  with  grief  and  astonishment  of  the  excesses 
both  to  property  and  persons  committed  by  the  land  troops 
who  took  possession  of  Hampton.  The  respect  I  entertain 
for  your  personal  character  leads  me  to  make  known  these 
excesses.  It  would  not  become  me  to  suggest  what  course 
of  inquiry  and  punishment  is  due  to  the  honour  of  your 
arms.  But  the  world  will  suppose  those  acts  to  have  been 
approved,  if  not  excited,  which  are  passed  over  with  impu- 
nity. I  do  not,  however,  deprecate  any  measures  you  may 
think  necessary  or  proper,  but  am  prepared  for  any  species 
of  warfare,  which  you  may  be  disposed  to  prosecute.  It  b 
for  the  sake  of  humanity  I  enter  this  protest. 

We  are  in  this  port  of  the  country  merely  in  the  noviciate 
of  our  warfare.  The  character  ?it  will  hereafter  assume, 
whether  of  mildness  or  ferocity,'  will  materially  depend  on 
the  first  operations  of  our  arms,  and  on  the  personal  charac- 
ter and  dispositions  of  the  respective  commanders. 

For  myself,  I  assure  you  most  solemnly,  that  I  neither 
have  authorised,  nor  will  sanction  any  outrage  on  humanity 
or  the  laws  of  civilized  warfare.  On  the  contrary,  I  think  it 
due  no  less- to  my  personal  honour  than  to  that  of  our  coun- 
try, to  repress  and  punish  every  excess.  I  hope  that  these 
sentiments  will  be  reciprocated.  It  will  depend  on  you  whe- 
ther the  evils  inseparable  from  a  state  of  war,  shall,  in  our 
operations,  be  tempered  by  the  mildness  of  civilized  life,  or, 
under  your  authority,  be  aggravated  by  all  the  fiend-like  pas- 
sions which  can  be  instilled  into  them. 

His  Britannic  Majesty*.*;  Ship  San  Domingo, 

Hampton  Roads,  Chesapeake,  June  29M,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  this 
clay,  stating  that  yofilind  communicated  to  your  government 
the  proposal  of  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  also,  that  some 
excesses  had  been  committed  by  the  troops  in  the  late  affair 
at  Hampton.  I  have  communicated  to  my  friend,  sir  Sidney 
Beckwith,  the  commander  of  his  majesty's  forces  on  shore, 
this  part  of  your  letter,  and  he  will  have  the  honour  of  wri- 
ting to  you  upon  the  points  to  which  it  alludes. 

I  beg  leave  to  assure  you  that  it  is  my  wish  to  alleviate  the 
misfortunes  of  the  war  commenced  against  my  country,  by 
every  means  in  my  power ;  at  the  same  time  I  am  prepared 
to  meet  anv  result  that  may  ensue  between  the  two  nations. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient  faithful 
humble  servant, 

(Signed)  JOHN  BORLASE  WARREN, 

Admiral  of  the  Blue,  and  Commander  in  Cr.icf. 
Brigadier-General  Taylor,  cpjnmanding  the 
United  States'  Forces  at  Hampton. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  San  Domingo,  June  29th,  I81c. 

Sir,  Admiral  sir  John  Warren  having  communicated  to 
me  the  contents  of  your  letter,  I  lose  no  time  in  assuring 
you  that  your  wish  cannot  exceed  mine  to  carry  on  war  with 
every  attention  to  the  unfortunate  individuals  in  whose  im- 
mediate vicinity  military  operations  may  take  place.  In  this 
spirit  I  shall  vie  with  you  to  the  utmost.  At  the  same  time 
I  ought  to  state  to  you,  that  the  excesses  of  which  you  cort- 
plain  at  Hampton,  were  occasioned  by  a  proceeding  of  so  ex- 
traordinary a  nature,  that  if  I  had  not  been  an  eye-witness,  I 
could  not  have  credited  it.  At  the  recent  attempt  on  Cra- 
ney  Island,  the  troops  in  a  barge  sunk  by  the  lire  of  your  gun  , 
clung  to  the  wreck  of  the  boat.  Several  Americans,  I  assure 
you  most  solemnly,  waded  off  from  the  island,  and  in  pre- 
sence of  all  engaged,  fired  upon,  and  shot  these  poor  fellows. 
With  a  feeling  natural  to  such  a  proceeding,  the  men  of  that 
•corps  landed  at  Hampton. 

That  occurrences  of  that  kind  may  never  occur  again,  and 
that  the  troops  of  each  nation  may  be  guided  by  sentiments 
of  honour  and  humanity  is  the  earnest  wish  of,  sir,  your  very 
obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  SIDNEY  BECKWITH,  &.-M.  Gen. 

To  Brig.-Gen.  Taylor,  commanding  the  U.  S.  Troops,  Norfolk. 

Head-Quarters,  Norfolk,  July  1,  1813. 

Sir,  it  affords  me  the  highest  satisfaction  to  receive  your 
assurance  that  you  wish  "  to  carry  on  war  with  every  attention 
to  the  unfortunate  individuals  in  whose  immediate  vicinity 
military  operations  may  take  place."  Such  sentiments  can 
alone  give  splendour  to  courage,  and  confer  honour  on  irili- 
tary  skill.  Worthless  is  the  laurel  steeped  in  female  tears, 
and  joyless  the  conquests  which  have  inflicted  needless  voe 
on  the  peaceful  and  unresisting.  The  frankness  with  which 
you  admit  the  excesses  at  Hampton  is  a  guarantee  against 
the  repetition. 

I  cannot  doubt,  sir,  your  conviction  that  the  scene  described 
by  you  at  Craney  Island,  was  really  acted.  But  the  very  rea- 
son it  appeared  to  you  incredible  and  inhuman,  it  should  have 


HISTORICAL  REGIS  J 

been  unauthorised.     Your  own  perception  of  propriety  shah 
decide,  if  facts  should  not  have  been  aso.  nd  redress 

demanded,  before  retaliation  was  resorted  to,  a  retaliation  too, 
extravagant  in  its  measure,  applying  not  to  the  perpetrators 
of  the  alleged  offence,  or  their  comrades,  but  to  the  inno- 
cent and  helpless.  I  have  reason  to  think  that  you  are  mis- 
taken in  your  impressions  of  the  conduct  of  our  troops  at 
ney  Island.  That* they  waded  into  the  water  on  the  sink- 
ing of  your  boat  is  true  ;  but  I  learn  that  it  was  for  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  their  conquest  and  assisting  the  perishing. 
One  person,  perhaps  more,  was  shot,  but  it  was  only  for  a 
continued  effort  to  escape,  after  repeated  offers  of  safety  on 
surrender  (such  at  least  is  the  representation  made  to  me). 
If,  however,  your  yielding  troops  have  hern  butchered,  it  is 
clue  to  the  honour  of  our  arms  to  disclaim  and  punish  the 
enormity.  The  fame  of  my  countrv  shall  never  be  tarnished 
by  such  conduct  in  the  troops  under  my  command.  I  have 
to  day  ordered  an  inquiry  into  the  facts,  by  a  board  of  field 
officers.  Proper  measures  shall  be  taken  to  punish  whatso- 
ever of  impropriety  may  have  been  committed.  1  flatter  mv- 
self  you  will  perceive  in  these  measures  a  disposition  to  af- 
ford no  cause  of  reproach  in  any  future  conflict.  When  we 
meet  let  us  combat  as  soldiers,  jealous  of  the  honour  of  o in- 
respective  countries,  anxious  to  surpass  each  other  as  well  in 
magnanimity  as  in  cou: 

Accept,  sir,  the  assurance  of  mv  consideration  and  respect. 

(Signed)  ROBERT  B.  TAYLOR, 

Brigadier-Genera',  commanding. 
To  Sir  Sidney  Beckivith*  ^-M.  Gen.  commanding  the 

Land  Forces  of  his  B.  M.  Hampton  Roads. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Brigadier-General  Tayhr  to  the  Se- 
cretary of  War,  dated  Norfolk,  2d  July,  1813. 

I  enclose,  as  was  promised  yesterday,  copies  of  the  letters 
•written  to  admiral  Warren  and  general  Beckw'.th.  My  aid, 
who  carried  them  down  yesterday,  brought  back  a  letter  from 
admiral  Warren,  of  which  a  copy  is  enclosed,  and  has  made 
a  statement  of  what  occurred  in  his  coniei-ence  with  the 
general. 

The  letter  of  the  admiral,  though  polite,  is  certainly  n.-: 
responsive  to  any  thing  which  has  occurred,  and  the  conversa- 
tion with  the  general,  though  equally  civil,  is  obviously  de- 
signed to  prevent  any  further  discussion  of  thjj,  subject.  From 
the  report  of  prisoners  and  deserters,  there  is  too  much  rea- 
son to  believe  that  before  the  attack  on  Craney  Island,  the 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

. 

cupidity  of  the  troops  had  been  excited  by  a  promise  of  the 
pillage  of  Norfolk.  To  inflame  their  resentment  after  their 
failure,  and  to  keep  alive  the  hope  of  plunder  at  Norfolk, 
there  is  much  reason  to  fear  that  our  troops  have  unmeritediy 
been  charged  with  misconduct  at  Craney  Island,  and  that 
made  a  pretext  for  their  excesses  and  their  conduct  at  Hamp- 
ton. I  entertain  no  doubt  of  the  justification  of  the  honour, 
and  magnanimity  of  our  men,  by  the  reports  of  the  board  of 
officers.  I  do  not  mean  that  the  subject  shall  drop,  but  when 
I  communicate  the  report,  I  shall  leave  the  British  comman- 
der the  alternative,  either  of  adopting  similar  measures  in  his 
own  army,  or  remaining  under  the  imputation  of  having  ex- 
cited their  troops  to  commit  these  excesses.  Our  troops  are 
highly  inflamed. 

(Copt;.) 

Notes  for  Captain  Myers  in  his  znterviecv  rvith  Admiral 
Warren. 

A  defenceless  and  unresisting  town  has  been  given  up  to 
indiscriminate  pillage,  though  civilize  d  war  tolerates  this  only 
as  to  fortified  places  carried  by  assault,  and  after  summons. 

Individuals  have  been  stripped  naked  ;  a  sick  man  stabbed 

twice  in  the  hospital ;  a  sick  man  shot  at  Pembroke  in  his 

"bed,  and  in  the  arms  of  his  wife,  long  after  the  defeat  of  the 

troops ;  his  wife  also  shot  at  and  wounded — a  Mr.  and  Mrs* 

Kirby. 

Females  have  been  not  only  assaulted  and  personallv 
abused  and  struck,  but  even  violated. 

If  occasion  offers,  notice  may  be  immediately  made  of  the. 
information  given  by  prisoners  and  deserters,  of  the  promise 
to  plunder  Norfolk. 

As  to  the  imputation  on  our  troops  at  Craney  Island,  if 
admiral  Warreu  should  mention  it,  deny  the  fact,  and  state 
the  actual  conduct  of  our  troops,  in  going  into  the  water  to 
assist  their  men,  and  then  giving  them  refreshments  as  soon 
as  they  entered  the  fort.  Refer  to  the  conduct  of  all  our 
prisoners,  particularly  those  taken  from  the  boats  of  the 
Victorious. 

JOHN  MYERS,  Capt.  and  Aid-de-camp. 

(Copt}.'} 

Head-^na: 
Sir,  in  ob  <:!;ence 
\vi.: 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

sir  Sidney  Beckwith.  The  admiral  received  me  with 
and  with  many  acknowledgements  for  the  terms  of  your  let- 
ter. Sir  Sidney  was  on  shore  at  Old  Point  Comfort.  Feel- 
ing some  difficulty  about  the  propriety  of  delaying  on  board 
for  his  arrival,  I  was  about  to  depart,  but  admiral  Warren 
expressed  a  wish  that  I  would  remain,  saying  that  he  would 
desire  no  doubt  to  give  a  reply. 

Sir  Sidney  did  not  arrive  till  8  o'clock.  He  expressed  great 
respect  for  the  motives  that  had  actuated  you, -sir,  in  the 
measures  which  you  were  pursuing.  They  were  more  than 
he  desired.  It  was  sufficient  he  said,  if  your  own  mind  was 
satisfied".  He  expressed  regret  at  the  trouble  that  you  had 
taken,  and  much  deference  for  your  character,  with  a  resolu- 
tion to  vie  with  you  in  efforts  to  confine  future  operations 
within  the  bounds  of  humanity,  and  the  usages  of  war.  He 
said,  in  allusion  to  the  pretended  conduct  of  our  men  at  Cra- 
ney  Island,  that  it  proceeded  no  doubt  from  a  few  of  the  more 
disorderly.  I  denied  the  charge  altogether,  as  I  had  done  in 
my  previous  interview,  when  it  was  made  the  justification  of 
their  outrages  at  Hampton,  on  the  ground  of  retaliation. 

1  found  that  it  was  not  his  intention  to  give  to  your  des- 
patch a  written  reply.  By  the  light  manner  in  which  he 
glanced  at  the  subject  of  your  investigation,  I  could  pert  e 
that  it  was  pressed  further  than  was  desirable  to  him.  It  - 
3ay  wish,  however,  to  be  able  to  report  to  you  the  probability 
of  a  like  course  of  inquiry  on  his  part,  and  I  enumerated  the 
catalogue  of  abuses  and  violence  at  Hampton.  I  mentioned 
the  pillage  of  the  town  and  the  wanton  destruction  of  medi- 
cine ;  that  individuals  had  been  stripped  naked,  a  sick  man 
stabbed  twice,  who  was  in  the  hospital ;  a  sick  man  shot  in 
his  bed  at  Pembroke,  and  in  the  arms  of  his  wife,  who  was 
also  shot  at  and  wounded,  long  after  the  defeat  of  the  troops, 
a  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirby;  and  finally  the  assault  on  females, 
their  being  struck  and  personally  abused,  and  even  violated. 

At  the  mention  of  the  murder  of  Kirby  and  the  wound 
•n  to  his  wife,  sir  Sidney  distinctly  admitted  it ;  the  others 
he  appeared  not  to  be  acquainted  with  the  particulars  of,  and 
expressed  some  concern  at  it.  He  said  that  he  had,  however, 
on  coming  to  a  knowledge  of  their  conduct,  immediately  or- 
dered the  embarkation  of  the  troops  that  were  concerned, 
with  a  determination  that  they  should  not  again  land  ;  and 
that  while  he  was  unable  to  controul  a  past  event,  the  respon- 
sibility of  a  recurrence  should  rest  on  himself;  that  thetroopr 
under  his  command  were  strangers  to  him  on  his  arrival  here, 
nnd  appenlin:  .fe  of  the  nature  of  t1^  rv.1.r  '" 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [269 

mi,  in  which  these  men  (meaning  the  French  corps)  he 
said  had  been  trained,  told  me  they  could  not  be  restrained. 

Thus  far  he  thought  he  could  not  give  a  more  convincing 
proof  of  the  sincerity  of  his  professions  than  in  the  with- 
drawal of  these  troops,  and  that  he  had,  moreover,  just  been 
employed  in  finding  a  new  watering-place  on  Back  river,  in 
order  to  remove  from  Hampton,  and  to  quiet  the  minds  of 
the  inhabitants. 

He  assured  me  that  in  making  such  a  pledge  as  he  was 
doing,  it  should  not  be  lightly  regarded.  That  he  would 
either  send  away  these  troops,  or  wait  the  arrival  of  others, 
for  new  operations.  He  concluded  by  expressing  a  hope  that 
you,  sir,  would  in  future  use  no  reserve  in  communicating 
any  subject  of  impropriety ;  and  on  his  part,  that  he  should 
certainly  do  so,  with  a  due  regard  to  the  liberality  of  your 
conduct;  he  hoped  the  subject  was  at  rest. — I  took  my  leave. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  most  obe- 
dient servant, 

JOHN  MYERS,  C&pt.  and  Aid-de-camp. 
Brigadier-General  Robert  B.  Taylor,  Norfolk. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Central  Taylor  to  Sir  Sidney  Beck- 
ivith,  Quarter- Master-General,  commanding  the  Land  Force 
of  His  Britannic  Majesty  at  Hampton  Roads,  dated 

Head- Barters,  July  5,  1813. 

I  have  now  the  honour  to  transmit  to  you  the  proceedings 
of  the  board  of  officers  convened  to  inquir£into  the  trans- 
actions at  Craney  Island.  They  doubtless  will  convince  you 
that  in  that  affair  the  American  troops  merited  no  censure  ; 
that  their  conduct  was  distinguished  by  humanity  and  mag- 
nanimity; and  that  the  distance  to  which  you  were  removed 
from  the  scene,  by  rendering  it  impossible  that  you  could  be 
informed  of  the  motives  of  their  conduct,  unhappily  led  you 
to  draw  conclusions  equally  mistaken  and  unmerited. 

You  have  done  me  the  justice  to  declare  that  the  mea- 
sures pursued  by  me,  evince  a  disposition  to  permit  in  my 
troops  no  abuses  on  humanity  or  the  laws  of  authorized  war. 
As  I  cannot  doubt  the  existence  of  similar  sentiments  with 
you,  I  have  a  right  to  expect  on  your  part,  measures  equally 
decisive  and  unambiguous.  If  I  have  deemed  it  needful  to 
forbid  openly  to  my  whole  army  all  acts  of  impropriety,  and 
to  direct  a  public  investigation  of  charges  believed  to  be  un- 
merited, but  having  the  sanction  of  your  imputation,  I  put  it 
to  your  candour  to  determine,  if  excesses  in  your  troops,  ad- 
mitted by  yourself,  and  some  of  them  of  the  most  atrockm- 

VOt-.  I.    PART  TT. 


sroj  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

character,  should  pass  unnoticed.  My  conduct  and  your  de- 
clarations, jrive  me  a  claim  to  ask  that  these  excesses  he  pun- 
ished. Your  army  will  then  learn  the  abhorrence  you  feel 
for  such  acts,  and  be  restrained,  by  the  fear  of  your  indigna- 
tion, from  similar  outrages.  But  if  these  admitted  excesses 
are  passed  by,  the  impunity  of  the  past  will  be  construed  by 
your  troops  into  an  encouragement  of  future  outrages,  and 
your  own  humane  intentions  be  completely  defeated.  Nei- 
ther can  you  be  unmindful  of  the  propriety  of  taking  from 
my  army  the  pretexts  for  impropriety,  by  a  knowledge  of 
effectual  restraints  on  yours. 

I  am  fully  impressed  with  the  liberality  of  your  conduct  in 
promising  to  remove  the  troops  who  committed  the  outrages 
at  Hampton,  from  the  opportunity  of  repeating  these  enor- 
mities. But,  besides  that  my  confidence  in  the  gallantry  of 
the  American  troops  forbids  me  to  desire  any  diminution  of 
your  force,  such  a  measure  being  liable  to  misconception 
by  our  own  troops,  might  not  attain  your  object.  The  rank 
and  file  of  an  army  seldom  reason  very  profoundly,  and,  how- 
ever erroneously,  might  ascribe  their  withdrawal  to  the  de- 
sertions which  have  on  every  opportunity  taken  place  in  that 
corps,  and  in  their  unwillingness,  if  any  should  have  been 
displayed,  to  fire  on  the  American  troops.  If  this  shoufd  un- 
fortunately be  the  case,  your  force  will  be  diminished,  without 
securing  the  great  ends  of  discipline  and  humanity,  for  which 
you  had,  with  so  much  liberality,  made  the  sacrifice.  I  am 
the  more  pressing  on  this  subject,  because  I  have  reason  to 
believe  that  even  since  your  assurance,  though  unquestionably 
against  your  wishes,  very  improper  acts  have  been  commit- 
ted by  the  troops  on  James  river.  The  domestic  property  of 
peaceable  private  citizens,  respected  by  all  civilized  nations, 
has  Ixx-n  pillage!,  and  what  furnished  no  allurements  to  cu- 
piditv,  has  been  wantonlv  defaced  and  destroyed. 

If  such  acts  are  either  directed  or  sanctioned,  it  is  impor- 
tant to  us  and  to  the  world,  to  know  what  species  of  warfare 
the  arms  of  Great  Britain  mean  to  wage.  If  authorised,  it 
will  be  of  little  practical  avail  to  know  that  the  director  of 
these  arms  entertains  the  most  liberal  personal  dispositions, 
while-  these  dispositions  remain  dormant  and  inoperative. 

If  I  am  troublesome  on  this  subject,  charge  it  to  my  anx- 
ious desire  that  nothing  may  occur  to  embitter  our  own  feel- 
ings and  those  of  our  respective  nations.  In  the  progress  of 
the  war  charges  of  inhumanity  have  unhappily  been  fre- 
quent and  re<  ipnu  al.  I  am  not  indifferent  to  the  infamy 
which  SH  on  the  officer,  who  either  cncou- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [an 

rages  or  permits  it.  I  derive  the  highest  satisfaction  from  the 
assurances  you  have  given  of  similar  sentiments.  We  have, 
sir,  become  enemies,  by  the  sacred  obligations  we  owe  our 
respective  countries.  But  on  the  great  and  expanded  subject 
of  human  happiness,  we  should  be  friends  by  the  sympathy 
of  our  feelings.  Let  us  then  cordially  unite,  and  exercising 
effectually  the  powers  with  which  our  governments  have  in- 
vested us,  give  to  our  warfare  a  character  of  magnanimity, 
conferring  equal  honour  on  ourselves  and  on  our  countries. 

Extract  from  General  Orders.     Norfolk. 

Assistant  Adjutant-General's  Office, •,  "fnly  l.sf,  1813. 

The  general  commanding  has  deemed  it  proper  to  rrmon- 
strate  against  the  excesses  committed  by  the  British  troops 
who  took  possession  of  Hampton.  It  has  been  attempted  to 
justify  or  palliate  these  excesses,  on  the  ground  of  inhuman- 
ity in  some  of  the  troops  at  Craney  Island,  who  are  charged 
with  having  waded  into  the  river  and  shot  at  the  unresisting 
and  yielding  foe,  who  clung  to  the  wreck  of  a  boat  which  had 
been  sunk  by  the  fire  of  our  guns. 

Humanity  and  mercy  are  inseparable  from  true  courage, 
and  the  general  knows  too  well  the  character  of  the  troops 
under  his  command,  to  doubt  their  magnanimity  towards  an 
unresisting  foe.  It  is  equally  due  to  the  honour  oi  the  troops 
engaged,  and  to  the  hitherto  unquestioned  fame  of  the  Ame- 
rican arms  for  honour  and  clemency,  that  the  imputation 
should  be  investigated.  If  the  charge  be  well  founded,  the 
army  must  be  purified  by  punishment  for  this  abomination. 
If,  as  the  commander  hopes  and  believes,  the  conduct  oi  our 
troops  has  been  misconceived,  the  world  should  have  an  au- 
thentic record  to  repel  the  imputation. 

He  therefore  directs  that  a  board  of  officers  to  consist  of 
colonel  Freeman,  president,  lieutenant-colonels  Boykin,  Ma- 
son, and  Read,  do  convene  the  day  after  to-morrow,  at  a 
place  to  be  appointed  by  the  president,  for  the  purpose  oi  in- 
vestigating those  charges,  and  report  accordingly. 

JAMES  MAURICE,  Major,  Act.  Assist.  Adj. -Gen. 

The  Evidence  having  been  gone  through,  the  Board,  after  de- 
liberate and  mature  consideration,  do  pronounce  the  folloiv- 
hig  opinion  : 

That  it  appears  from  the  testimony  adduced,  that  on  the 
22d  of  last  month  in  the  action  at  Craney  Island,  two  of  the 
enemy's  boats,  in  frofit  of  their  line,  were  sunk  by  (he  fire  of 


i>72]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

our  batteries,  the  soldiers  and  sailors  who  were  in  thos: 
were  consequently  afloat  and  in  danger  of  drowiung,  and  be- 
ing in  front  of  the  boats  which  were  uninjured,  to  disable 
these  our  guns  were   necessarily  fired  in  a  direction  of  the 
men  in  the  water,  but  with  no  intention  whatever  to  do  them 
further  harm,  but  on  the  contrary,  orders  were  given  to  pre- 
vent this  by  ceasing  to  fire  grape,  and  only  to  fire  round  shot. 
It  also  is  substantiated  that  one  of  the  enemy  who  had  appa- 
rently surrendered,  advanced  towards  the  shore,  about  1( 
)Tards,  when  he  suddenly  turned  to  his  right  and  endeavouret 
to  make  his  escape  to  a  body  of  the  enemy  who  had  lande( 
above  the  island,  and  who  were  then  in  view,  then,  and  not 
till  then,  was  he  fired  upon,  to  bring  him  back,  which  had  the 
desired  effect,  and  he  was  taken  unhurt  to  the  island. 

It  further  appears  that  the  troops  on  the  island  exerted 
themselves  in  acts  of  hospitality  and  kindness  to  the  unresist- 
ing and  yielding  foe. 

Therefore  the  board  do,  with  great  satisfaction,  declare,  as 
their  unbiassed  opinion,  that  the  charge  alleged  against  the 
troops  is  unsupported,  and  that  the  character  of  the  Ameri- 
can soldiery  for  humanity  and  magnanimity,  has  not  been 
committed,  but  on  the  contrary  confirmed. 

(Signed)  CONSTANT  FREEMAN, 

Colonel  Artillery,  President. 
ARMISTEAD  T.  MASON, 
Lieutenant- Colonel  commanding  5th  Re$t.   Inf. 

FRANCIS  M.  BOYKIN, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  commanding  3dRegt,  Inf. 

THOMAS  READ,y>. 
Lieutenant- Colonel  commanding  Artillenj. 
JOHN  BARBER,  Recorder. 

Copy  of  a  Note  from  Sir  Sidney  Beck-wit  h  to  General  Taylor^ 
'dated  His  Majesty's  Ship  San  Domingo,  July  6,  1813. 
Quarter-master-general  sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  begs  leave  to 
return  his  best  acknowledgments  to  general  Taylor  for  his 
polite  communication,  and  to  repeat  his  earnest  wish  that 
military  operations  should  be  carried  on  with  all  the  liberal- 
ity  and   humanity    v/hich   becomes  the    respective  nations. 
Any  infringement  of  the  established  usages  of  war  will  in- 
stantly be  noticed  and  punished. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [273 

tpy  of  a  Letter  from  Midshipman  MiClintock  to  the 
y  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Kiusale,   Va.  July  15,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  to  inform  you  of  the  unfortunate  event  which 
occurred  here  on  the  14th  ;  the  action  between  the  British 
barges  and  the  United  States'  schooner  Asp,  commanded  by 
Mr.  Segourney. 

At  9,  A.  M.,  the  Scorpion  and  Asp  got  under  way  from 
Yeocomico  river  and  stood  out  ;  at  10,  discovered  a  number 
of  sail,  which  proved  to  be  the  enemy  ;  the  Scorpion  then 
made  signal  to  act  at  discretion,  and  stood  up  the  river  ;  the 
schooner  being  a  bad  sailer  and  the  wind  a-head,  we  were  not 
not  able  to  get  out.  Finding  the  enemy  approaching  us,  we 
thought  it  best  to  return  ;  immediately  two  of  the  brigs  stood 
towards  us  and  anchored  a  short  distance  from  the  bar,  where 
they  manned  their  boats.  Mr.  Segourney  thought  it  would 
be  for  our  advantage  to  run  further  up  the  creek,  which  we 
did,  but  finding  the  enemy  had  left  their  vessels,  we  had  no 
time  to  weigh  anchor,  therefore  we  were  obliged  to  cut  our 
cables.  We  were  attacked  by  three  boats  well  manned  and 
armed,  we  continued  a  well-directed  fire  on  them,  and  after 
a  short  time  had  elapsed  they  were  compelled  to  retreat,  and 
obtain  a  reinforcemeni.  About  an  hour  after  they  retired, 
we  were  attacked  by  five  boats  ;  we  continued  doing  the  same 
as  before,  but  having  so  few  men,  we  were  unable  to  repel  the 
enemy.  When  they  boarded  us,  they  refused  giving  us  any 
quarters  ;  there  was  upwards  of  fifty  men  on  our  decks, 
which  compelled  us  to  leave  the  vessel,  as  the  enemy  had  got 
possession.  They  put  her  on  fire  and  retreated.  A  short 
time  after  they  left  her  we  went  on  board,  and  with  much 
difficulty  extinguished  the  flames.  But  it  is  with  deep  regret 
that  I  inform  you  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Segourney,  who  fought 
most  gallantly  in  defence  of  the  vessel,  and  the  utmost  exer- 

n  was  used  by  every  man  on  board.     Our  crew  only  con- 
sted  of  21  ;  there  are  ten  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

H.  M.  M'CLINTOCK, 
Midshipman  in  the  U.  S.  Navy* 
he  Hon.  TV.  Jones,  Seceretary  of  the 


T 

Copy  of  a  Despatch  to  his  Excellency  William  Hatvkins, 
Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

Newbern,  July  24. 

Sir,  in  compliance  with  your  request  I  have  made  the  fol- 
lowing statement  of  facts  relative  to  the  late  affair  at  Ocra- 


274]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

cock,  which  I  believe  to  be  correct.  On  the  llth  instant, 
about  9  o'clock,  P.  M.,  arrived  off  Qcracock  bar,  and  anchor- 
ed within  one  mile  of  the  inlet,  a  B:i;ish  fiVet,  consisting  of 
one  74,  three  frigates,  one  brig,  and  three  schooners,  under 
the  command  of  admiral  Cockburn,  which  was  discovered 
by  the  inhabitants  of  Ovracock,  some  of  whom  apprised  the 
inhabitants  of  Portsmouth,  before  day,  of  the  circumstance. 
As  soon  as  day -tight  appeared  I  sent  my  trunk,  containing 
all  the  money  and  custom-house  bonds  belonging  to  the  of- 
fice, on  board  the  revenue  cutter  Mercury,  which  was  got 
under  way  by  captain  Wallace,  as  soon  as  the  pilot  was  able 
to  discern  the  stakes  which  mark  out  the  channel.  The 
barges  started  from  the  fleet  about  the  time  the  cutter  weigh- 
ed her  anchors,  and  such  was  the  rapidity  of  their  move- 
ments, that  they  were  within  one  mile  and  a  half  of  her 
when  she  cleared  the  Swash.  The  first  eleven  barges  came, 
in  regular  order,  close  together,  until  they  came  nearly  within 
reach  of  the  shot  of  the  privateer  brig  Anaconda,  of  New 
York,  and  the  letter  of  marque  schooner  Atlas,  of  Philadel- 
phia, they  then  separated  from  one  to  two  hundred  yards 
apart,  and  hauled  off  under  the  edge  of  Ocracock,  and  wait- 
ed a  short  time  for  the  approach  of  the  other  barges,  ten  in 
number ;  and  upon  their  arrival,  they  alt  began  slowly  to  ap- 
proach the  above-mentioned  vessels,  discharging  their  twelve- 
pound  carronades,  which  they  carried  in  their  launches  and 
barges — they  also  fired  several  of  their  Congreve  rockets  at 
the  shipping,  without  effect.  The  Anaconda  and  Atlas  com- 
menced firing  very  spiritedly,  though  it  was  of  short  dura- 
tion, for  the  former  had  but  15  men  on  board,  the  latter  but 
30,  they  were  therefore  compelled  to  submit  to  overwhelm- 
ing numbers,  as  there  could  not  have  been  less  than  3000 
men,  at  that  time  inside  the  bar  and  crossing  it  together. 
These  men  abandoned  the  brig  and  schooner,  and  betook 
themselves  to  their  boats,  most  of  whom  escaped.  The  cap- 
tain of  the  Atlas  remained  in  her,  and  continued  to  fire  at 
the  enemy  after  all  his  men  had  forsaken  him.  Several  of 
the  barges  proceeded  immediately  On,  without  stopping  to 
board  the  prizes,  in  pursuit  of  the  cutter,  thinking  (as  they 
afterwards  said)  if  they  could  have  taken  the  cutter,  they 
would  have  precluded  the  possibility  of  information  reaching 
Newbern  until  they  arrived  themselves.  The  cutter  very 
narrowly  escaped,  by  crowding  upon  her  every  inch  of  can- 
vas she  had,  and  by  cutting  away  her  long  boat.  The  admi- 
ral did  not  hesitate  to  declare,  that  it  was  his  intention  to  have 
gone  to  Newbern,  provided  he*could  have  reached  that  place 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [2/5 

previous  to  the  citizens  receiving  any  intelligence  of  his  ap- 
proach* After  pursuing  the  cutter  eight  or  ten  miles  through 
the  sound  they  gave  out  the  chase  and  returned.  Several 
hundred  men  were  landed  on  Portsmouth,  and  I  presume  as 
many  on  Ocracock  ;  among  those  landed  on  Portsmouth, 
there  were  about  30O  regulars  of  the  102d  regiment,  under 
the  command  of  colonel  Napier,  and  ahout  400  marines  and 
sailors.  They  had  several  small  field-pieces  in  their  launches, 
but  did  not  land  them.  On  both  the  above-mentioned  places 
there  was  the  most  wanton,  cruel,  and  savage-like  destruction 
of  property  I  have  ever  witnessed  ;  furniture  of  all  kinds  split 
and  broken  in  pieces,  beds  ripped  open  and  the  feathers  scat- 
tered in  the  wind,  women  and  children  robbed  of  their  cloth- 
ing, and  indeed  many  little  children  have  been  left' without  ft 
second  suit  to  their  backs.  They  broke  open  m\'  office,  and 
destroyed  every  paper  they  could  lay  their  hands  on,  private 
as  well  as  public.  I  very  fortunately  had  bu»ied  the  most 
valuable  papers  belonging  to  the  office,  which  escaped  them : 
they  robbed  me  of  all  the  books  in  my  library  as  well  as  every 
other  species  of  property  they  could  lay  their  hands  on,  ex- 
cept the  law  books,  and  them,  with  savage  fury,  they  tore  in 
pieces. 

They  plundered  the  two  islands  of  200  head  of  cattle,  400 
sheep,  and  1600  fowls  of  various  kinds,  for  which  they  pre- 
tended to  pay  ;  they  paid  1600  dollars  for  the  above  articles, 
which  is  about  one-half  the  value  of  the  cattle.  This  was 
done,  no  doubt,  to  acquire  the  reputation  of  being  a  gene- 
rous enemy,  without  deserving  it.  After  they  had  been  at 
Portsmouth  two  days,  I  was  informed  by  captain  Powell, 
that  the  admiral  considered  it  necessary  for  the  safety  of  his 
men  and  officers,  that  I  should  go  on  board  his  Britannic 
majesty's  ship  Sceptre,  and  there  remain  until  they  had  all 
embarked  and  the  squadron  ready  to  snil.  I  was  immedi- 
ately sent  on  board,  where  I  remained  two  days,  during 
which  time  I  was  very  politely  treated.  At  the  expiration  of 
the  two  days,  I  was  turned  adrift  in  the  ocean  with  four 
Spaniards,  in  a  small  boat,  who  were  as  little  acquainted  with 
the  bar  as  myself,  bv  which  means  we  all  narrowly  escaped 
being  lost  in  the  breakers.  On  the  26th  they  hoisted  sail  and 
stood  to  sea,  the  wind  at  S.  S.  W. 

Very  respectfully,  I  remain,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

THOMAS  SINGLETON. 
His  Excellency  William  Haivkins,  Esq. 

P.  S.  The  inhabitants  being  much  alarmed,  a  riumber  of 
them  endeavoured  to  make  their  escape  from  the  island, 


.276]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

among  whom  was  a  Mr.  Richard  Casey,  with  his  family.  He 
had  got  into  his  boat  with  his  wife  and  children,  and  was  un- 
der way  when  he  was  hailed  by  a  party  of  soldiers  and  or- 
dered back,  which  he  was  about  obeying,  though  slowly  (for 
he  is  a  decrepid  old  man),  when  one  of  the  soldiers  fired  on 
him  and  shot  him  in  the  breast.  I  believe  the  wound  will  not 
prove  mortal.  The  admiral  told  him  (as  he  told  every  other 
person,  who  complained  of  depredations),  point  out  the  man 
who  did  it  and  he  shall  be  corrected — well  knowing  it  was 
impossible  for  them  to  identify  any  one  among  such  a  num- 
ber of  strangers. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Lieutenant  Angus,  commanding  the  Uni- 
ted'States  Delaware  Flotilla,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

United  States'  Flotilla,  Cape  May,  July  29th,  1813. 
Sir,  lying  off  Dennis's  Creek  this  morning  I  discovered 
that  an  enemy's  sloop  of  war  had  chased  a  small  vessel,  and 
taken  her  near  the  Overfalls.  I  immediately  got  underway 
and  stood  down  the  bay.  The  sloop  of  war  stood  so  near 
the  Overfalls,  that  she  grounded  slightly  on  the  outer  ridge 
of  Crow's  shoals.  I  thought  proper  to  endeavour  to  bring 
him  to  action.  I  succeeded  and  got  within  three  quarters  of 
a  mile  and  anchored  the  boats,  (consisting  of  eight  gun-boats 
and  two  block-sloops)  in  a  line  a-head.  A  heavy  frigate  had 
by  this  time  anchored  about  half  a  mile  further  out.  After 
a  cannonade  of  one  hour  and  45  minutes,  in  which  the  ships 
kept  up  a  constant  and  heavy  fire,  heaving  their  shot  from  a 
half  to  three  quarters  of  a  mile  over  us,  they  doing  us  but 
little  damage,  their  shot  seldom  striking  us,  the  sloop  of  war 
and  frigate,  finding  our  shot  to  tell  on  their  hulls,  manned 
their  boats,  ten  in  number  (two  launches,  the  rest  large  barges 
and  cutters),  with  from  30  to  40  men  in  each,  and  despatched 
them  after  gun-bor.t  No.  121,  sailing  master  Shead,  \vhich 
had  unfortunately  fell  a  mile  and  a  half  out  of  the  line,  al- 
though it  had  been  my  positive  and  express  orders  to  anchor 
at  half  cable  length  apart  and  not  farther. 

From  the  strong  ebbtide  they  succeeded  in  capturing  her, 
after  a  gallant  resistance  (for  three  times  did  No.  121  dis- 
charge her  long  gun,  apparently  full  of  caunister,  among  the 
whole  line  of  boats  when  at  a  very  short  distance,  which 
must  have  done  execution,  and  not  till  after  he  was  boarded 
did  the  colours  come  down)  ;  before  any  assistance  could  be 
given  her,  however,  we  got  near  enough  to  destroy  three  or 
four  of  their  boats,  and  must  have  killed  a  vast  number 
men.  Tt  being  a  calm.  -'led  in  getting-  her  nv 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [277 

by  sending  all  their  boats  a-head  and  towing  her,  but  have 
paid  dearly  for  their  temerity,  they  must  at  least  have  had 
one-third  of  their  men  killed  and  wounded.      They  put  one 
shot  through  the  foot  of  the  Buffaloe's  jib,  and  one  through 
the  under  part  of  the  bowsprit,  and  cut  gun-boat  No.   125, 
sailing  master  L.  Moliere's  rigging  in  several  places,  and  an 
18-pound  shot  struck  her  long  gun  and  indented  it  several 
inches  ;  but  happy  am  I  to  say,  that  not  a  man  was  wound* 
in  anv  of  the  boats,  except  the  one  captured,  and  have  not 
vet  learnt  their  fate.     I  feel  much  indebted  to  L.  Mitchell, 
and  officers  commanding  gun-boats,   for  their  spirited  con- 
duct  in  carrying  into  execution  my  orders  ;  and  H 
iudce  from  "the  gallant  resistance  made  by  sailing  maste: 
Shead  in  engaging  when  surrounded  by  the  boats  of  the  ene- 
mv    that  every  officer  and  man  of  the  flotilla  will  do  their 
duty  in  all  situations.     I  have  the 


Commanding  United  States'*  Del.  Flotilla. 
P.  Si  The  action  commenced  at  7  minutes  before  1,  P.  M., 
and  ended  37  minutes  after  2,  P.  M. 

United  Scales1  Flotilla,  Newcastle,  Aug.  17,  1813. 
Sir   I  have  iust  received  a  letter  from  sailing  master  Shead, 
respecting  the  capture  of  gun-boat  No.  121    (a  copy  oi  which 
I  have  the  honour  of  enclosing  to  you).     I  see  from  this  the 
enemy  had  7  killed  and  12  wounded,  4  since  dead.     lam 
convinced  they  have  deceived  him,  both  as  to  the  number  oi 
killed  and  wounded,  as  well  as  the  number  of  men  in  tl 
boats,  which  at  the  smallest  calculation  could  not  have  been 

CSI  have  the  honour  to  remain,  with  the  highest  respect,  sir, 

^''(sS  SerVmt>  SAML.  ANGUS. 

Hon.  Wm.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Mr.  Shears  Letter  enclosed  in  the  above. 

On  board  His  Majesties  Sloop  Martin,  of  Rhode  Island, 

August  6,  181  o. 

Sir  it  is  with  the  deepest  regret  that  I  announce  to  you  the 
capture  of  the  United  States'  gun-boat  No.  121  under  my 
command,  by  the  boats  of  the  Junon  frigate  and  Martin  sloop 
of  war,  eight  in  number,  three  of  which  mounted  12-pound 
carronades  and  carrying  in  all  ISO  men.  At  ten  minutes  be- 
fore meridian  on  the  27th  July,  I  received  orders  from  yoi 
to  form  a  line  a-head  and  to  fire  on  the  enemy,  but  \  mg 

v'oii,  i.  *AUT  fr.  [O  o  ] 


278]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

7v    *£fe^ 

mvstlf  drove  away  from  the  squadron  by  the  wind  dyin^ 
away  and  a  strong  ebb  tide,  I  remained  sweeping  and  firing 
the  32-pounder.  At  the  same  time  finding  my  shot  did  not 
reach,  I  placed  all  hands  to  the  sweeps  to  endeavour  to  gain 
the  squadron.  At  twenty  minutes  past  12,  I  perceived  the 
enemy's  barges  making  for  me  ;  they  being  out  of  gun-shot, 
I  still  endeavoured  to  sweep  up  to  the  squadron.  At  twenty 
minutes  before  1,  P.  M.,  I  commenced  firing  on  the  enemy's 
boats  and  sweeping  at  the  same  time  ;  but  finding  I  could  gain 
nothing,  I  anchored  to  receive  them  as  American  tars  have 
been  accustomed  to.  The  enemy  then  getting  within  grape 
reach,  I  commenced  it,  but  unfortunately  the  pintle  of  the 
large  gun  gave  way  the  first  round  ;  I  again  charged  and  got 
her  to  bear,  which  discharge  did  considerable  damage,  but 
tearing  my  gun-carriage  all  to  pieces. — I  loaded  with  the 
hope  of  getting  her  to  bear  again,  but  found  it  impossible ; 
the  enemy  now  close  on  board,  discharging  vollies  of  shot 
from  their  carronades  and  muskets,  I  called  the  boarders  and 
small  arms'  men  away  to  repel  the  enemy ;  they  now  sur- 
rounding us  poured  in  a  heavy  fire  which  we  returned  with 
as  much  promptness  as  our  feeble  numbers  would  admit: 
several  of  my  men  having  now  fell,  our  ensign  halyards  shot 
away,  and  seeing  the  superiority  of  the  enemy's  force  in  the 
act  of  boarding  us  in  every  quarter,  they  began  to  fire  briskly, 
and  I  found  it  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  those  few 
valuable  lives  left,  to  surrender  to  seven  times  our  number; 
the  enemy  boarding,  loaded  our  decks  with  men,  we  were  all 
driven  below,  and  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  ihe  offi- 
cers could  stay  the  revenge  of  the  seamen,  who  seemed  to  thirst 
for  blood  and  plunder,  the  last  of  which  they  had  by  robbing 
us  of  every  thing;  we  had  none  killed,  but  seven  wounded, 
live  slightly.  The  enemy's  loss  by  us  was  7  killed  and  12 
wounded,  4  of  which  have  since  died.— '-They  have  con- 
quered me,  but  they  have  paid  dearly  for  it,  and  I  trust,  sir, 
when  you  come  to  view  the  disadvantages  I  laboured  under, 
having  been  but  seven  days  on  board  of  my  boat,  and  scarcely 
time  to  station  my  men,  and  the  misfortune  of  entirely  dis- 
abling my  gun,  and  the  superiority  of  numbers  to  oppose  me, 
you  will  be  convinced  that  the  flag  I  had  the  honour  to  wear 
has  not  lost  any  of  that  national  character  which  has  ever 
been  attached  to  it. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect,  sir, 
your  most  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  SHE  AD,  Sailing  Master. 
Lieut.  Sanil.  Angus,  commanding  U.  S.  Flotilla^  Delaware. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [279 

'°Py  °fa  Letter  from  Commodore  Lewis  to  the  Secretary  of  the 

Navy. 

Of  "Sandy -Hook,  July  6,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  of  the  capture  of  the 
British  sloop  tender  Eagle,  which  for  some  time  had  been 
employed  by  commodore  Beresford  for  the  purpose  of  burn- 
ing the  coasters,  &c.  Her  force  was  2  officers  and  11  men, 
with  a  32  brass  howitzer. 

This  service  was  performed  in  a  most  gallant  and  officer- 
like  manner  by  sailing-master  Percival,  who,  with  volunteers 
from  the  flotilla  which  I  have  the  honour  to  command,  jump- 
ed on  board  a  fishing  smack,  ran  the  enemy  along  side,  and 
carried  him  by  a  coup  de  main.  I  am  sorry  to  add,  that  in 
this  little  affair  the  enemy  lost  the  commanding  officer,  one 
midshipman  mortally  wounded,  and  two  bacllv.  I  am  happy 
to  say  we  suffered  no  injurv,  which  is  to  be  attributed  to  the 
superior  management  of  sailing-master  Percival,  and  the  cool- 
ness with  which  his  men  fired,  for  which  they  all  deserve  well 
of  their  country. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 
^|  J.  LEWIS, 

Com.  U.  S.  Flotilla. 

n.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 
P.  S.  The  capture  was  on  Sunday  the  4th  inst. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Lewis  to  the  Secretary  of  the 

Navy. 

New-Tork,  Nov.  T,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  of  the  recapture  of 
the  American  schooner  Sparrow  of  Baltimore,  from  New- 
Orleans  bound  to  this  port,  laden  with  sugar  and  lead.  On 
the  3d  the  enemy's  ship  Plantagenet  chased  the  said  vessel 
on  shore,  near  Long  Branch,  six  miles  distant  from  where 
the  flotilla  is  stationed,  and  took  possession  of  her  with  about 
one  hundred  men.  A  detachment  from  the  flotilla  marched 
against  them,  attacked  them,  drove  them  from  on  board  the 
vessel,  and  took  possession,  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  ship 
and  barges.  In  the  affair  we  lost  one  man  ;  the  enemy's  loss 
must  have  been  considerable,  as  many  were  seen  to  fall.  The 
whole  cargo,  together  with  sails,  rigging,  &c.  have  been  sa- 
ved. Vessel  bilged. 

I  have  the  honour,  &c. 

J.  LEWIS. 

Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


280]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Jacob  Lewis,  commanding  the 
New-Tor k  Flotilla,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

New- fork,  Nov.  3O,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  to  inform  you,  that  on  the  29th  the  flotilla  force 
recaptured  from  the  Plantagenet,  a  schooner  from  New-Or- 
leans, loaded  with  cotton  and  lead. 

The  enemy  had  chased  the  schooner  on  shore  about  13 
miles  from  where  the  flotilla  lay  at  anchor ;  however,  before 
the  enemy  had  time  to  get  the  vessel  off,  or  to  unlade  the  car- 
go, they  were  attacked,  beaten  off,  and  the  vessel  taken  pos- 
session of.  The  enemy  sent  a  flag  to  demand  a  ransom  for 
the  schooner  and  cargo,  stating  she  was  in  their  power,  and 
unless  we  consented  to  ransom  the  vessel,  he  would  destroy 
her,  also  all  the  houses  on  the  shore.  All  his  threats  did  not 
answer  his  purpose  ;  the  vessel  and  cargo  are  ours. 

1  have  the  honour  to  assure  you  of  my  consideration  and 
respect.  J.  LEWIS. 

Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navyy  Washington. 

P.  S.  One  man  wounded  in  the  affair. 

J.L. 

Hon.  Wm.  Jones,  &c. 


CRUIZES  OF  COMMODORE  CHAUNCEY  ON  LAKE  ONTARIO. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from    Lieutenant  Chauncey  to  Commodore 

Chauncey. 

Sacketfs  Harbour,  18th  June,  1813. 

Sir,  according  to  your  orders  of  the  1 4th  instant,  I  pro- 
ceeded off  Presque  Isle  in  the  schooner  Lady  of  the  Lake. 
On  the  morning  of  the  16th  fell  in  with  and  captured  the 
English  schooner  Lady  Murray,  from  Kingston  bound  to 
York,  loaded  with  provisions  and  ammunition. 

Enclosed  is  a  list  of  1  ensign,  15  non-commissioned  officers 
and  privates  found  on  board,  with  6  men  attached  to  the  ves- 
sel. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 
(Signed)  \\  OLCOTT  CHAUNCEY. 

Copy  of  a,  Letter  from  Commodore  Chaunccy  to  the  Secretary  of 

the  Navy. 
U.  S.  ship  General  Pike,  at  anchor  off  Niagara, 

August  4,  1813. 

Sir,  after  leaving  Sackett's  Harbour  I  stretched  over  for 
the  enemy's  shore,  and  from  thence  stood  up  the  lake  ;  the- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [281 

winds  being  light,  I  did  not  arrive  off  this  port  until  the  even- 
ing of  the  2rth  ult.  On  th.;  24th  I  fell  in  with  the  Lady  of 
the  Lake,  on  her  return  to  Saikett's  Harbour,  with  prisoners 
from  Fort  George.  I  transferred  the  prisoners  to  the  Raven, 
and  ordered  her  to  S  sckett's  Harbour.  The  Lady  of  the 
Lake  I  despatched  to  Fort  George,  for  guides  for  the  head 
of  the  lake.  General  Boyd  having  informed  me  tha<t  the 
enemv  had  a  considerable  deposit  of  provisions  and  stores  at 
Burlington  Bav,  I  was  determined  to  attempt  their  destruc- 
tion. On  the  25th  I  was  joined  by  the  Pert,  and  on  the  27th 
the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  with  guides  and  captain  Crane's  com- 
pany of  artillery,  and  colonel  Scott,  who  had  very  handsome- 
ly volunteered  for  the  service.  After  conversing  with  colo- 
nel S  ott  upon  the  subject,  it  was  thought  advisable  to  take 
on  board  150  infantry,  which,  by  the  extraordinary  exertions 
of  that  excellent  officer,  were  embarked  before  6  o'clock  the 
next  morning,  and  the  fleet  immediately  proceeded  for  the 
head  of  the  lake;  but  owing  to  light  winds  and  calms,  we  did 
not  arrive  to  an  anchorage  before  the  evening  of  the  29th. 
We  sent  two  parties  on  shore,  and  surprised  and  took  some 
of  the  inhabitants,  from  whom  we  learned  that  the  enemy  had 
received  considerable  reinforcements  within  a  clay  or  two, 
and  that  his  force  in  regulars  was  from  600  to  800  men.  We 
however  landed  our  troops  and  marines  and  some  sailors  the 
next  morning,  and  reconnoitered  the  enemy's  position^  found 
him  posted  upon  a  peninsula  of  very  high  ground,  and  strong- 
ly intrenched,  and  his  camp  defended  by  about  8  pieces  of 
cannon.  In  this  situation  it  was  thought  not  advisable  to  at- 
tack him  with  a  force  scarcely  half  his  numbers,  and  without 
artillery;  we  were  also  deficient  in  boats,  not  having  a  suffi- 
cient number  to  cross  the  bay  with  all  the  troops  at  the  same 
time.  The  men  were  all  re-embarked  in  the  course  of  the  af- 
ternoon, and  in  the  evening  we  weighed  and  stood  for  York; 
arrived  and  anchored  in  that  harbour  at  about  3  P.  M.  On 
the  31st  ran  the  schooners  into  the  upper  harbour  ;  landed  the 
marines  and  soldiers  under  the  command  of  colonel  Scott, 
without  opposition;  found  several  hundred  barrels  of  flour 
and  provisions  in  the  public  storehouse,  five  pieces  of  cannon, 
eleven  boats,  and  a  quantity  of  shot,  shells,  and  other  stores, 
all  of  which  were  either  destroyed  or  brought  away.  On  the 
1st  instant,  just  after  having  received  on  board  all  that  the 
Vessels  could  take,  I  directed  the  barracks  and  the  public 
storehouses  to  be  burnt.  We  then  re-embarked  the  men, 
and  proceeded  for  this  place,  where  I  arrived  yesterday.  Be- 
tween 400  and  500  men  left  York  for  the  head  of  the  lake  2 


282]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

days  before  we  arrived  there.  Some  few  prisoners  were  la- 
ken,  some  of  whom  were  paroled;  the  others  have  been  land- 
ed at  Fort  George. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  verv  respectfully,  your  obedi- 
ent servant,  ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Chauncey  to  the  Secretary 

of  the  Navy,  dated  on  board  the  ship  General  Pike,  at  Sachet? s 

Harbour,  \3th  August,  1813. 

Sir,  I  arrived  here  this  day  with  this  ship,  the  Madison, 
Oneida,  Governor  Tompkhis,  Conquest,  Ontario,  Pert,  and 
Lady  of  the  Lake.  The  Fair  American  and  Asp  I  left  at 
Niagara.  Since  I  had  the  honour  of  addressing  you  last  I 
have  been  much  distressed  and  mortified;  distressed  at  the 
loss  of  part  of  the  force  intrusted  to  my  command,  and  mor- 
tified at  not  being  able  to  bring  the  enemy  to  action.  The 
following  movements  and  transactions  of  the  squadron,  since 
the  6th  instant,  will  give  you  the  best  idea  of  the  difficulties 
and  mortifications  that  I  have  had  to  encounter. 

On  the  7th,  at  day-light,  the  enemy's  fleet,  consisting  of  2 
ships,  2  brigs,  and  2  large  schooners,  were  discovered,  bear- 
ing W.N.W.  distant  about  5  or  6  miles,  wind  at  west.  At  5 
weighed  with  the  fleet  and  manoeuvred  to  gain  the  wind.  At 
9,  having  passed  to  leeward  of  the  enemy's  line,  and  a-breast 
of  his  van  ship,  the  Wolfe,  hoisted  our  colours  and  fired  a 
few  guns,  to  ascertain  whether  we  could  reach  him  with  our 
shot.  Finding  they  fell  short,  I  wore  and  hauled  upon  a  wind 
on  the  starboard  tack,  the  rear  of  our  schooners  then  about  6 
miles  astern.  The  enemy  wore  in  succession,  and  hauled  up- 
on a  wind  on  the  same  tack,  but  soon  finding  that  we  should 
be  able  to  weather  him  upon  the  next  tack,  he  tacked  and 
made  all  sail  to  the  northward.  As  soon  as  oui  rear  vessels 
could  fetch  his  wake,  tacked  and  made  all  sail  in  chase.  In 
the  afternoon  the  wind  became  verv  light,  and  towards  night 
quite  calm.  The  schooners  used  their  sweeps  all  the  after- 
noon, in  order  to  close  with  the  enemy,  but  without  success. 
Late  in  the  afternoon  I  made  the  signal  of  recal,  and  formed 
in  close  order.  Wind  during  the  night  from  the  westward, 
and  after  midnight  squally:  kept  all  hands  at  quarters  and 
beat  to  windward,  in  hopes  to  gain  the  wind  of  the  enemy. 
At  2,  A.  M.,  missed  two  of  our  schooners.  At  day -light  dis- 
covered the  missing  schooners  to  be  the  Hamilton  and 
Scourge.  Soon  after  spoke  the  Governor  Tompkins,  who  in- 
formed me  that  the  Hamilton  and  Scourge  both  overset  anc 
sunk  in  a  heavy  squall  about  two  o'clock;  and  distressing  to 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [283 

relate,  every  soul  perished  except  16.  This  fatal  accident 
deprived  me  at  once  of  the  services  of  two  valuable  officers, 
lieutenant  Winter  and  sailing  master  Osgood,  and  two  of  my 
best  schooners,  mounting  together  19  guns.  This  accident 
giving  to  the  enemy  decidedly  the  superiority,  I  thought  he 
would  take  advantage  of  it,  particularly  as,  by  a  change  of 
wind,  he  was  again  brought  dead  to  the  windward  of  me. 
Formed  the  line  upon  the  larboard  tack  and  hove  to  Soon 
after  6,  A.  M.,  the  enemy  bore  up  and  set  studding  sails,  ap- 
parently with  an  intention  to  bring  us  to  action.  When  he 
had  approached  us  within  about  4  miles,  he  brought  to  on 
the  starboard  tack.  I  wore  and  brought  to  on  the  same  tack. 
Finding  that  the  enemy  had  no  intention  of  bringing  us  to  ac- 
tion, I  edged  away  to  gain  the  land,  in  order  to  have  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  land  breeze  in  the  afternoon.  It  soon  after  fell 
calm,  and  I  directed  the  schooners  to  sweep  up  and  engage  the 
enemy.  About  noon  we  got  a  light  breeze  from  the  eastward. 
I  took  the  Oneida  in  tow,  as  she  sails  badly,  and  stood  for  the 
enemy.  When  the  van  of  our  schooners  was  within  one  and 
an  half  or  two  miles  of  his  rear,  the  wind  shifted  to  the  west- 
ward, which  again  brought  him  to  windward.  As  soon  as  the 
breeze  struck  him,  he  bore  up  for  the  schooners,  in  order  to 
cut  them  off  before  they  could  rejoin  me;  but  with  their 
sweeps,  and  the  breeze  soon  reaching  them  also,  they  were 
soon  in  their  station.  The  enemy,  finding  himself  foiled  in 
his  attempt  on  the  schooners,  hauled  his  wind  and  hove  to, 
It  soon  after  became  very  squally,  and  the  appearance  of  its 
continuing  so  during  the  night,  and  as  we  had  been  at  quar- 
ters for  nearly  forty-eight  hours,  and  being  apprehensive  of 
separating  from  some  of  the  heavy  sailing  schooners  in  the 
squall,  induced  me  to  run  in  towards  Niagara,  and  anchor 
outside  the  bar.  General  Boyd  very  handsomely  offered  any 
assistance  in  men  that  I  might  require.  I  received  150  sol- 
diers, and  distributed  them  in  the  different  vessels,  to  assist 
in  boarding  or  repelling  boarders,  as  circumstances  might  re- 
quire. It  blew  very  heavy  in  squalls  during  the  night.  Soon 
after  day-light  discovered  the  enemy's  fleet,  bearing  north ; 
weighed  and  stood  after  him.  The  winds  soon  became  light 
and  variable,  and  before  12  o'clock  quite  calm.  At  5  fresh 
breezes  from  north,  the  enemy's  fleet  bearing  north,  distant 
about  4  or  5  leagues.  Wore  the  fleet  in  succession  and  haul- 
ed upon  a  wind  on  the  larboard  tack.  At  sundown  the  em  -•• 
my  bore  N.  W.  by  N.  on  the  starboard  tack.  The  wind  haul- 
ing to  the  westward,  I  stood  to  the  northward  all  night,  in 
>rder  to  gain  the  north  shore.  At  day-light  tacked  to  the 


E"> 
! 


284]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

westward,  the  wind  having  changed  to  N.  N.  W.     Soon  r.i 
ter  discovered  the  enemy's  fleet,  hearing  S.  W.     I  took  the 
Asp,  and  the  Madison  the  Fair  American  in  tow,  and  made 
all  sail  in  chase. 

It  was  at  this  time  we  thought  of  realising  what  we  had 
been  so  long  toiling  for ;  but  before  twelve  o'clock,  the  wind 
changed  to  W.  S.  W.,  which  brought  the  enemy  to  wind- 
ward: tacked  to  the  northward;  at  three,  the  wind  inclining 
to  the  northward,  wore  to  the  southward  and  westward,  and 
made  the  signal  for  the  fleet  to  make  all  sail.  At  four,  the 
enemy  bore  S.  S.  W.,  bore  up  and  steered  for  him.  At  five, 
observed  the  enemy  becalmed  under  the  land,  nearing  him 
very  fast  with  a  fine  breeze  from  N.  N.  W.  At  six,  formed 
the  order  of  battle,  within  about  four  miles  of  the  enemy, 
the  wind  at  this  time  very  light.  At  seven,  the  wind  changed 
to  the  S.  W.  and  a  fresh  breeze,  which  again  placed  the  ene- 
my to  windward  of  me.  Tacked,  and  hauled  upon  a  wind 
on  the  larboard  tack,  under  easy  sail ;  the  etu-my  standing 
after  us.  At  nine,  when  within  about  two  gun  shot  of  our 
rear,  he  wore  to  the  southward:  I  stood  on  to  the  northward 
under  sail — the  fleet  formed  in  two  lines,  a  part  of  the  schoo- 
ners forming  the  weather  line,  with  orders  to  commence  the 
fire  upon  the  enemy  as  soon  as  their  shot  would  take  effect, 
and  as  the  enemy  reached  them  to  edge  down  upon  the  line 
to  leeward  and  pass  through  the  intervals  and  form  to  lee 
ward.  At  about  half  past  ten,  the  enemy  tacked  and  stood 
after  us.  At  eleven,  the  rear  of  our  line  opened  his  fire  up- 
on the  enemy:  in  about  15  minutes  the  fire  became  general 
from  the  weather  line,  which  was  returned  from  the  enemy. 
At  half  past  eleven,  the  weather  line  bore  up  and  passed  the 
leeward,  ercccpt  the  Growler  and  Julia,  which  soon  after 
tacked  to  the  southward,  which  brought  the  enemv  between 
them  and  me.  Filled  the  main-top-sail  and  edged  away  two 
points  to  lead  the  enemy  down,  not  only  to  engage  him  to 
more  advantage,  but  to  lead  him  from  the  Growler  and  Ju- 
lia. He,  however,  kept  his  wind  until  he  completely  sepa- 
rated those  two  vessels  from  the  rest  of  the  squadron,  ex- 
changed a  few  shot  with  this  ship  as  he  passed,  without  in- 
jury to  us,  and  made  sail  after  our  two  schooners.  Tacked 
and  stood  after  him.  At  twelve,  midnight,  finding  that  I 
must  either  separate  from  the  rest  of  the  squadron,  or  relin- 
quish the  hope  of  saving  the  two  which  had  separated,  I  re- 
luctantly gave  up  the  pursuit,  rejoined  the  squadron  then  to 
leeward,  and  formed  the  line  on  the  starboard  tack.  The 
firing  was  continued  between  our  two  schooners  and  the  ese- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [285 

lay's  fleet  until  about  one,  A.  M.,  when,  I  presume,  they 
were  obliged  to  surrender  to  a  force  so  much  their  superior. 
Saw  nothing  more  of  the  enemy  that  night:  soon  after  day- 
light discovered  them  close  in  with  the  north  shore,  with  one 
of  our  schooners  in  tow,  the  other  not  to  be  seen.  I  presume 
she  may  have  been  sunk.  The  enemy  showed  no  disposition 
to  come  down  upon  us,  although  to  windward,  and  blowing 
heavy  from  W.  The  schooners  labouring  very  much,  I  or- 
dered two  of  the  dullest  to  run  into  Niagara  and  anchor* 
The  gale  increasing  very  much,  and  as  I  could  not  go  into 
Niagara  with  this  ship,  I  determined  to  run  into  Gennessee 
Bay,  as  a  shelter  for  the  small  vessels,  and  with  the  expecta- 
tion of  being  aH«  to  obtain  provisions  for  the  squadron,  as  we 
were  all  near  .he  Madison  and  Oneida  having  not  a 

single  day's  c  when  we  arrived  opposite  Gennessee 

Bay.    I  found  th  very  prospect  of  the  gale's  continu- 

ing, and  if  it  did,  £cou!d  run  to  this  place,  and  provision  the 
whole  squadron  with  more  certainty,  and  nearly  in  the  same 
time  that  I  could  at  Gennessee,  admitting  that  I  could  obtain 
provisions  at  that  place.  After  bringing  the  breeze  as  far  as 
Oswego,  the  wind  became  light,  inclining  to  a  calm,  which 
had  prolonged  our  passage  to  this  day.  I  shall  provision  the 
squadron  for  five  weeks,  and  proceed  up  the  lake  this  even- 
ing ;  and  when  I  return  again,  I  hope  to  be  able  to  communi- 
cate moi-e  agreeable  news  than  this  communication  contains. 

The  loss  of  the  Growler  and  Julia,  in  the  manner  in  which 
they  have  been  lost,  is  mortifying  in  the  extreme  ;  and  al- 
though their  commanders  disobeyed  my  positive  orders,  I 
am  willing  to  believe  that  it  arose  from  an  error  of  judg- 
ment, and  excess"  of  zeal  to  do  more  than  was  required  of 
them  ;  thinking,  probably,  that  the  enemy  intended  to  bring 
us  to  a  general  action,  they  thought,  by  gaining  the  wind  of 
him,  they  would  have  it  in  their  power  to  annoy  and  injure 
him  more  than  they  could  by  forming  to  leeward  of  our  line. 
From  what  I  have  been  able  to  discover  of  the  movements  of 
the  enemy,  he  has  no  intention  of  engaging  us,  except  he  can 
get  decidedly  the  advantage  of  wind  and  weather,  and,  as  his 
vessels  in  squadron  sail  better  than  our  squadron,  he  can  al- 
ways avoid  an  action,  unless  I  can  gain  the  wind,  and  have 
sufficient  day -light  to  bring  him  to  action  before  dark.  His 
object  is  evidently  to  harrass  us  by  night  attacks,  by  which 
means  he  thinks 'to  cut  off  our  small  dull-sailing  schooners  in 
detail.  Fortune  has  evidently  favoured  him  thus  far.  I  hope 
that  it  will  be  my  turn  next ;  and  although  inferior  in  point  of 
force,  I  feel  very  confident  of  success. 

VOL.  I.  PART  ir.  [  P  p  ] 


280]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  most 
obedient  servant,  ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 

Extract  from  another  Letter,  of  the  same  date,  to  the  Secretary, 

from  Commodore  Chauncey. 

On  my  way  down  the  lake  I  fell  in  with  the  Lady  of  the 
Lake,  on  her  return  from  Sackett's  Harbour,  where  I  had 
sent  her  on  the  6th  instant,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  up  fifty 
marines.  I  have  brought  her  back  with  me  to  this  place,  to 
man  the  new  schooner,  which  will  be  launched  on  the  18th. 

Head-quarters,  Kingston,  \4th  August,  1813. 

By  accounts  received  by  his  excellency  the  governor  in 
chief  and  commander  of  the  forces,  froc^  commodore  sir 
James  Yeo,  dated  off  York,  at  half  past  1,  t.  M.,  on  the  llth 
instant,  the  following  particulars  have  just  been  transmitted, 
of. the  capture  and  destruction  of  four  of  the  enemy's  armed 
schooners. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  the  10th  instant,  the  enemy's  squad- 
ron, under  commodore  Chauncey,  got  under  weigh  from 
their  anchorage  off  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  river,  and,  with 
a  fine  breeze  from  the  eastward,  stood  towards  our  fleet, 
which  was  becalmed  off  the  port  at  Twelve  Mile  Creek.  At 
sun-set,  a  fine  breeze  coming  off  the  land,  gave  us  the  wind 
of  the  enemy,  when  our  squadron  stood  for  them,  on  which 
they  immediately  bore  away  from  us,  under  as  much  sail  as 
the  schooners  could  carry  to  keep  up  with  the  larger  vessels. 
The  enemy's  fleet  formed  a  long  line  ;  the  Pike,  Madison, 
Oneida,  and  six  schooners,  two  schooners  being  placed  to 
windward,  for  the  purpose  of  raking  the  masts  of  our  squad- 
ron as  they  should  come  up.  At  11  o'clock  got  within  gun- 
shot of  the  schooners,  when  they  opened  a  brisk  fire,  and, 
from  their  going  so  fast,  it  was  more  than  an  hour  before  the 
Wolfe,  our  headmost  ship,  could  pass  them. 

At  this  time  the  rest  of  the  squadron  was  between  two  and 
three  miles  astern  of  the  Wolfe,  and  on  her  coming  up  with 
the  Madison  and  Pike-,  they  put  before  the  wind  and  made 
sail,  firing  their  scern-chase  guns.  Sir  James  Yeo,  finding  it 
impossible  to  get  the1  squadron  up  with  the  enemy,  as  the 
Wolfe  was  the  only  ship  which  could  keep  up  with  them, 
ra:u'k  sail  between  them  and  the  two  schooners  to  windward, 
\vhic  h  he  captured,  and  which  proved  to  be  the  Julia  and 
Gvov.k:,  each  mounting  one  long  32  and  one  long  12-poun- 
dor.  Two  of  the  enemy's  largest  schooners,  the  Scourge,  of 
...id  the  Hamilton,  of  9,  upset  on  the  night  of  the  9th  in- 


[UAL  DOCUMENTS.  (287 

stant,  in  carrying  sail  to  keep  from  our  squadron,  and  all  on 
board  perished,  in  number  about  one  hundred. 

By  the  loss  and  capture  of  the  two  schooners,  the  enemy's 
squadron  has  been  reduced  to  ten  vessels,  and  ours  increased 
to  eight.  It  is  ascertained  that  the  Pike  mounts  28  long  24 
pounders,  and  has  a  complement  of  420  men,  and  that  the 
Madison  mounts  22  thirty-two  pound  carronades,  with  34O 
men.  Nine  boat  loads  of  troops  were  taken  on  board  the 
squadron  on  Monday,  for  the  purpose,  it  is  supposed,  of  re- 
pelling boarders. 

The  Wolfe  has  not  received  any  material  damage,  and  not 
a  man  was  hurt  on  board.  The  prisoners  were  landed  from 
her  on  the  llth  instant,  and  the  damages  of  the  Growler  were 
repairing.  She  had  lost  her  bowsprit,  and  was  otherwise 
much  cut  up. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  eagerness  and  enthusiasm  mani- 
fested by  the  officers  and  men  serving  on  board  our  squadron 
for  a  close  engagement  with  the  enemy,  and  the  only  appre- 
hension and  regret  expressed  by  all  were,  that  their  oppo- 
nents, though  superior  in  guns  and  weight  of  metal,  and  men, 
would  be  too  wary  to  afford  them  an  opportunity  of  termina- 
ting, by  a  decisive  action,  the  contest  for  ascendancy  on  the 
lake. 

•tract  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Isaac  Chauncey  to  the  Se- 

retary  of  the  Navy,  dated  Sept.  1 3, 1 81 3,  on  board  the  United 

'tales'  Ship  General  Pike,  off  Duck  Inland. 

ir,  on  the  7lh  at  day-light  the  enemy's  fleet  was  discover- 
ed close  in  with  Niagara  river,  wind  from  the  southward. 
Made  the  signal  and  weighed  with  the  fleet  (prepared  for  ac- 
tion), and  stood  out  of  the  river  after  him.  He  immediately 
made  all  sail  to  the  northward.  We  made  sail. in  chase,  with 
our  heavy  schooners  in  tow,  and  have  continued  the  chase  all 
round  the  lake,  night  and  day,  until  yesterday  morning,  when 
he  succeeded  in  getting  into  Amherst  Bay,  which  is  so  little 
known  to  our  pilots,  and  said  to  be  full  of  shoals,  that  they 
are  not  willing  to  take  me  in  there.  I  shall,  however,  unless 
driven  from  my  station  by  a  gale  of  wind,  endeavour  to  watch 
him  so  close  as  to  prevent  his  getting  out  upon  the  lake. 

During  our  long  chase  we  frequently  got  from  within  one 
to  two  miles  of  the  enemy,  but  our  heavy  sailing  schooners 
prevented  our  closing  with  him,  until  the  llth,  off  d>  nr*  ssee 
river,  we  carried  a  breeze  with  us  while  he  lay  becalmed  with- 
in about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  of  him,  when  hu  took  the 
breeze,  and  we  had  a  running  fight  for  three  and  a  halt  hours, 
but  by  his  superior  sailing  he  escaped  me,  and  ran  into  Am- 


288]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

herst  Bay  yesterday  morning.  In  the  course  of  our  chase  on 
the  llth,  I  got  several  broadsides  from  this  ship  upon  the 
enemy,  which  must  have  done  him  considerable  injury  as 
many  of  the  shot  were  se£n  to  strike  him,  and  people  were 
observed  over  the  side  plugging  shot  holes.  A  few  shot 
struck  our  hull  and  a  little  rigging  was  cut,  but  nothing  of  im- 
portance— not  a  man  was  hurt. 

I  was  much  disappointed  that  sir  James  refused  to  fight 
me ;  as  he  was  so  much  superior  in  point  of  force  both  in 
guns  and  men — having  upwards  of  20  guns  more  than  we 
have,  and  heaves  a  greater  weight  of  shot. 

This  ship,  the  Madison,  and  Sylph  have  each  a  schooner 
constantly  in  tow,  yet  the  others  cannot  sail  as  fast  as  the 
enemy's  squadron,  which  gives  him  decidedly  the  advan- 
tage, and  puts  it  in  his  power  to  engage  me  when  and  how 
he  chooses.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Chauncey  to  the  Secretary  of 

the  Navy,  dated 
United  States'  Ship  General  Pike,  Niagara  River, 

25th  September,  1813. 

Sir,  after  I  had  the  honour  of  addressing  you  on  the  13th, 
I  continued  to  blockade  the  enemy  until  the  ITth,  when  the 
wind  blowing  heavy  from  the  westward,  the  enemy  having 
run  into  Kingston,  and  knowing  that  he  could  not  move  from 
that  place  before  a  change  of  wind,  I  took  the  opportunity  of 
running  into  Sackett's  Harbour. 

I  remained  but  a  few  hours  at  the  harbour,  and  left  it  at 
day-light  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  but  did  not  arrive  here 
until  yesterday,  owing  to  continual  head  winds,  not  having 
laid  our  course  during  the  passage.  On  ihe  19th  I  saw  the 
enemy's  fleet  near  the  False  Ducks,  but  took  no  notice  of 
him,  as  I  wished  him  to  follow  me  up  the  take. 

There  is  a  report  here,  and  generally  believed,  that  captain 
Perry  has  captured  the  whole  of  the -enemy's  fleet  on  Lake 
Erie.  If  this  should  prove  true  in  all  its  details  (and  God 
grant  that  it  may),  he  has  immortalised  himself,  and  not  dis- 
appointed the  high  expectations  formed  of  his  talents  and 
bravery. 

I  have  learnt  from  a  source  which  can  be  depended  upon, 
that  we  did  the  enemy  much  more  injury  in  our  rencontre 
on  the  llth  than  I  had  expected — I  find  that  we  killed  cap- 
tain Mulcaster  of  the  Royal  George  and  a  number  of  his  men. 


OFFICIAL  .DOCUMENTS,  ^M 

and  did  considerable  injury  to  that  ship,  as  well  as  several  of 
the  other  vessels.  It  was  truly  unfortunate  that  we  could  not 
have  brought  the  enemy  to  a  general  action  on  that  day,  as  I 
am  confident  that  the  victory  would  have  been  as  complete 
as  that  upon  Lake  Erie.  I  however  have  the  consolation  to 
know  that  every  exertion  was  used  to  bring  him  to  close  ac- 

11.     If  we  did  not  succeed  it  was  not  our  fault. 
[  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 
ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
e  Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Chauncey  to  the  Secrctanj 

of  the  Navy. 

United  States'  Ship  General  Pike, 

off  Niagara,  1st  Oct.  1813. 

Sir,  on  the  26th  ultimo,  it  was  reported  to  me,  that  the 
enemy's  fleet  was  in  York.  I  immediately  despatched  the 
Lady  of  the  Lake  to  look  into  York,  and  ascertain  the  fact- 
she  returned  in  the  evening  with  the  information  that  the 
enemy  was  in  York  bay.  I  immediately  prepared  to  weigh, 
but  owing  to  a  strong  wind  from  N.  N.  E.  was  not  able  to 
get  out  of  the  river  before  the  evening  of  the  27th,  and  ow- 
ing to  the  extreme  darkness  of  the  night,  a  part  of  the  squad- 
ron got  separated  and  did  not  join  before  next  morning  at 
8,  A.  M. — On  the  28th,  the  General  Pike,  Madison,  and 
Sylph,  each  took  a  schooner  in  tow  and  made  all  sail  for 
York.  Scon  after  discovered  the  enemy's  fleet  under  way 
in  York  Bay,  shaped  our  course  for  him,  and  prepared  for  ac- 
tion— he  perceiving  our  intention  of  engaging  him  in  his  po- 
sition, tacked  and  stood  out  of  the  bay,  wind  at  east;  I  formed 
the  line  and  run  down  for  his  centre.  When  we  had  ap- 
proached within  about  three  miles  he  made  all  sail  to  the 
southward — I  wore  in  succession  and  stood  on  the  same  tack 
with  him,  edging  down  gradually  in  order  to  close — at  ten 
minutes  past  meridian,  the  enemy,  finding  that  we  were  clo- 
sing fast  with  him,  and  that  he  must  either  risk  an  action  or 
suffer  his  two  rear  vessels  to  be  cut  off,  he  tacked  in  succes- 
sion, beginning  at  the  van,  hoisted  his  colours,  and  commen- 
ced a  well-directed  fire  at  this  ship,  for  the  purpose  of  cover- 
ing his  rear,  and  attacking  our  rear  as  he  passed  to  leeward ; 
perceiving  his  intention,  I  was  determined  to  disappoint  him  ; 
therefore,  as  soon  as  the  Wolfe  (the  leading  ship)  passed  the 
centre  of  his  line  and  abeam  of  us,  I  bore  up  in  succession 
(preserving  our  line)  tor  the  enemy's  centre  ;  this  manoeuvre 
not  only  covered  our  rear  but  hove  him  in  confusion;  he  im- 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

mediately  bore  away  ;  we  had  however  closed  so  near  as  to 
bring  our  guns  to  bear  with  effect,  and  in  twenty  minutes  the 
main  and  mizen  topmasts  and  main  yard  of  the  Wolfe  were 
shot  away;  he  immediately  put  before  the  wind,  and  set  all 
sail  upon  his  foremast.  I  made  the  signal  for  the  fleet  to 
make  all  sail  ;  the  enemy,  however,  keeping  de  id  before  the 
wind,  was  enabled  to  outsail  most  of  our  squadron.  As  it 
brought  all  the  sail  upon  one  mast,  he  did  not  feel  the  loss  of 
his  main  and  mizi.-n  topmasts.  I  continued  the  chase  until 
near  three  o'clock,  during  which  time  I  was  enabled,  in  this 
ship,  with  the  Asp  in  tow,  to  keep  within  point  blank  shot  of 
the  enemy,  and  sustained  the  whole  of  his  fire  during  the 
chase.  Captain  Crane',  in  the  Madison,  and  lieutenant  Brown, 
in  the  Oneida,  used  every  exertion  to  close  with  the  enemy; 
but  the  Madison  having  a  heavy  schooner  in  tow,  and  the 
Oneida  sailing  very  dull  before  the  wind,  prevented  those  of- 
ficers from  closing  near  enough  to  do  any  execution  with 
their  carronades.  The  Governor  Tompkins  kept  in  her  sta- 
tion until  her  foremast  was  so  badly  wounded  as  to  oblige 
her  to  shorten  sail.  Lieutenant  Finch,  of  the  Madison,  who 
commanded  her  this  cruize,  owing  to  the  indisposition  of 
lieutenant  Pettigrew,  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  and  is  an 
officer  of  much  promise.  Captain  Woolsey,  in  the  Sylph,  was 
kept  astern  by  the  Ontario,  which  he  had  in  tow,  but  did  con- 
siderable execution  with  his  heavy  gun. 

At  fifteen  minutes  before  3,  P.  M.,  I  very  reluctantly  relin- 
quished the  pursuit  of  a  beaten  enemy.  The  reasons  that 
led  to  this  determination  were  such  as  I  flatter  myself  that 
you  will  approve.  They  were  these :  at  the  time  I  gave 
the  chase,  this  ship  was  making  so  much  water,  that  it 
quired  all  our  pumps  to  keep  her  free,  owing  to  our  receiving 
several  shot  so  much  below  the  water  edge,  that  we  could 
not  plug  the  holes  from  the  outside ;  the  Governor  Tomp- 
kins with  her  foremast  gone,  and  the  squadron  within  about 
six  miles  of  the  head  of  the  lake  ;  blowing  a  gale  of  wind  from 
east,  and  increasing  with  a  heavy  sea  on,  and  every  appear- 
ance of  the  equinox.  I  considered  that  if  I  chased  the  ene- 
my to  his  anchorage  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  I  should  be  obli- 
ged to  anchor  also,  and  although  we  might  succeed  in  driving 
him  on  shore,  the  probability  was  that  we  should  go  on  shore 
also,  he  amongst  his  friends,  and  we  amongst  our  enemies; 
and,  after  the  gale  abated,  if  he  could  succeed  in  getting  off 
one  or  two  vessels  out  of  the  two  fleets,  it  would  give  him  as 
completely  the  command  of  the  lake  as  if  he  had  twenty  ves- 
sels. Moreover,  he  was  covered  at  his  anchorage  by  part  of 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS. 

army,  and  several  small  batteries  thrown  up  for  the  pur- 
pose. Therefore  if  we  could  have  rode  out  the  gale,  we 
should  have  been  cut  up  by  their  shot  from  the  shore.  Un- 
der all  these  circumstances,  and  taking  into  view  the  conse- 
quences resulting  from  the  loss  of  our  superiority  on  the 
lake  at  this  time,  I  without  hesitation  relinquished  the  op- 
portunity then  presenting  itself,  of  acquiring  individual  re- 
putation at  the  expense  of  my  country. 

The  loss  sustained  by  this  ship  was  considerable,  owing  to 
her  being  so  long  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  whole  of  the  ene- 
my's fleet;  but  our  most  serious  loss  was  occasioned  by  the 
bursting  of  one  of  our  guns,  which  killed  and  wounded  22 
men,  and  tore  up  the  topgallant  forecastle,  which  rendered  the 
gun  upon  that  deck  useless.  We  had  four  other  guns  crack- 
ed in  the  muzzle,  which  rendered  their  use  extremely  doubt- 
ful. Our  main  topgallant  mast  was  shot  away  in  the  early 
part  of  the  action,  and  the  bowsprit,  fore  and  main -mast 
wounded,  rigging  and  sails  much  cut  up,  and  a  number  of 
shot  incur  hull,  several  of  which  were  between  wind  and  wa- 
ter, and  27  men  killed  and  wounded,  including  those  by  the 
bursting  of  the  gun.  The  Madison  received  a  few  shot,  but 
no  person  hurt  on  board.  The  Governor  Tompkins  lost  her 
foremast,  and  the  Oneida  her  main  topmast  badly  wounded. 
We  have,  however,  repaired  nearly  all  our  damages,  and  are 
ready  to  meet  the  enemy.  During  our  chase,  one,  if  not  two 
of  the  enemy's  small  vessels  was  completely  in  our  power, 
if  I  could  have  been  satisfied  with  so  partial  a  victory,  but 
I  was  so  sure  of  the  whole,  that  I  passed  them  unnoticed,  by 
which  means  they  finally  escaped. 

The  gale  continued  until  last  night,  but  the  wind  still  blows 
from  the  eastward.  I  thought  it  important  to  communicate 
with  general  Wilkinson,  to  ascertain  when  he  meant  to  move 
with  the  army.  I  therefore  ran  off  this  place  for  that  purpose, 
and  he  thinks  that  the  public  service  will  be  promoted  by  my 
watching  sir  James  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  and,  if  possible, 
preventing  his  return  to  Kingston,  while  he  proceeds  with 
the  army  for  Sackett's  Harbour.  I  shall,  therefore,  proceed 
immediately  in  quest  of  the  enemy. 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  assistance  I  re- 
ceived from  captain  Sinclair,  during  our  chase,  in  using  his 
best  endeavours  to  bring  this  ship  into  close  action.  The 
other  officers  and  men  behaved  to  my  perfect  satisfaction,  and 
were  very  anxious  to  close  with  the  enemy,  even  singly;  and 
if  he  ever  gives  us  an  opportunity  for  close  action,  they  will 
'hat  thev  are  not  inferior  to  anv  of  their  coimtrvmen, 


292]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servant, 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 

Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Chauncey  to  the  Secretary  of 

the  Navy,  dated  United  States'  Ship  General  Pike,  Sacketfs 

Harbour,  6th  October,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that  I  arrived  here 
this  morning,  with  five  sail  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  which  I 
fell  in  with  and  captured  last  evening  off  the  Ducks.  These 
were  part  of  a  fleet  of  seven  sail  which  left  York  on  Sunday, 
with  234  troops  on  board,  bound  to  Kingston.  Of  this  fleet 
five  were  captured,  one  burnt,  and  one  escaped.  The  prison- 
ers amounting  to  nearly  300,  besides  having  upwards  of  30O 
of  our  troops  on  board  from  Niagara,  induced  aie  to  run  in- 
to port,  for  the  purpose  of  landing  both. 

I  have  an  additional  pleasure  in  informing  you,  that 
amongst  the  captured  vessels  are  the  late  United  States' 
schooners  Julia  and  Growler ;  the  others  are  gun  vessels. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant,  ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 

Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Chauncey  to  the  Secretary  of 

the  Navy. 
United  States'  Ship  General  Pike,  Sackeifs  Harbour, 

Sth  October,  1813. 

Sir,  as  soon  as  the  last  of  the  flotilla  with  the  troops  clear- 
eel  the  Niagara,  I  proceeded  in  quest  of  the  enemy.  On  the 
2d  instant,  at  10,  A.  M.,  discovered  him  steering  a  course  for 
Niagara,  with  studding  sahs  and  all  sails  set,  wind  from  the 
south  and  westward.  We  made  all  sail  in  chase,  but  as  soon 
as  we  shot  out  from  the  land,  so  that  he  could  fairly  make  us 
out,  he  took  in  studding  sails,  and  hauled  upon  a  wind  to  the 
v.-cstward,  and  made  all  sail  from  us  ;  the  wind  being  light  all 
day,  we  made  but  little  progress  against  the  current,  and  at 
sun-downthe  enemy  wasofFthe  Twenty 'Mrle  Creek,  and  had 
evidently  gained  considerably  from  us.  During  the  night  the 
wind  continued  so  light,  that  we  altered  our  position  but  very 
little,  and  at  day-light  on  the  3d,  saw  the  enemy  at  anchor 
close  in  with  the  land,  between  Twelve  and  Twenty  Mile 
Creek.  As  soon  as  he  saw  us,  he  weighed  and  made  all  sail 
to  the  westward,  wind  from  south  to  south-west  and  squally - 
I  made  all  sail  in  chase,  and  continued  the  chase  the  w! 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [3  > 

day,  it  blowing  veiy  heavy  in  squalls  ;  at  sun-down  we  could 
barely  make  him  out  from  the  mast-head,  when  he  appeared 
nearly  up  to  the  head  of  the  lake ;  it  continued  squally  with 
rain,  and  the  night  very  dark ;  at  day-light  on  the  4th  hazy, 
could  see  nothing  of  the  enemy — continued  working  up  for 
the  head  of  the  lake  ;  towards  meridian  it  became  calm,  I 
ordered  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  to  sweep  up  to  Burlington 
Bay,  and  ascertain  whether  the  fleet  was  there — at  half  past 
9,  P.  M.,  she  returned  with  information  that  the  fleet  was  not 
there.  Saw  but  two  gun-boats.  It  struck  me  at  once  that  he 
had  availed  himself  of  the  darkness  of  the  preceding  night, 
and  had  either  run  for  Kingston,  or  down  the  lake  for  the  pur- 
pose of  intercepting  the  flotilla  with  the  army ;  I  therefore 
made  all  sail  and  shaped  my  course  for  the  Ducks,  with  a 
view  of  intercepting  him  or  his  prizes  if  he  should  have  made 
any.  The  wind  increased  to  a  strong  gale  from  the  north- 
ward and  westward,  and  continued  during  the  whole  day  on 
the  5th,  we  therefore  made  a  great  run,  for  at  1,  P.  M.,  we 
passed  Long  Point ;  at  3  discovered  seven  sail  near  the  False 
Ducks ;  presuming  them  to  be  the  fleet,  made  sail  in  chase  ; 
at  4«  made  them  out  to  be  sloops  and  schooners.  I  made  the 
signal  for  the  Sylph  and  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  to  cast  off 
their  tow,  and  chase  N.  E.  soon  after  perceiving  the  enemy 
separating  on  different  tacks,  I  cast  off  the  Governor  Tomp- 
kins  from  this  ship,  gave  the  squadron  in  charge  of  captain 
Crane,  and  made  all  sail  in  chase  ;  at  5  the  enemy  finding  us 
to  gain  fast  upon  him,  and  one  of  his  gun  vessels  sailing 
much  worse  than  the  rest,  he  took  the  people  out  and  set  her 
on  fire.  At  sun-down,  when  opposite  the  Real  Ducks,  the 
Hamilton  (late  Growler),  Confiance  (late  Julia),  and  Mary 
Ann,  struck  to  us.  The  Sylph  soon  after  brought  down  the 
Drummond,  cutter  rigged.  The  Lady  Gore  run  into  the 
Ducks,  but  the  Sylph  (which  was  left  to  watch  her)  took 
possession  of  her  early  the  next  morning.  The  Enterprize, 
a  small  schooner,  is  the  only  one  that  escaped,  and  she  owed 
her  safety  to  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

Finding  much  difficulty  in  shifting  the  prisoners,  owing  to 
the  smallness  of  our  boats  and  a  heavy  sea,  I  determined  to 
take  the  prizes  in  tow  and  run  for  this  place,  and  land  the 
prisoners  and  troops  that  I  had  on  board.  We  arrived  here 
at  day-light.  On  the  6th,  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  having  towed 
one  of  the  prizes  in,  I  despatched  her  immediately  to  cruize 
between  the  Real  and  False  Ducks.  She  returned  the  same 
afternoon,  having  discovered  the  enemy's  squadron  going 
into  Kingston. 

VOL,  I.    PART  II. 


294]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

I  have  repaired  the  principal  damages  sustained  by  this 
ship  in  the  action  on  the  28th  ultimo,  and  have  put  a  new 
fore  mast  into  the  Governor  Tompkins.  We  are  now  ready 
and  waiting  the  movements  of  the  army,  which  it  is  contem- 
plated will  leave  here  on  the  10th. 

The  vessels  captured  on  the  5th  are  gun-vessels,  mounting 
from  one  to  three  guns  each,  with  troops  from  the  head  of 
the  lake  (hut  last  from  York)  bound  to  Kingston.  We  learnt 
from  the  prisoners  that  the  enemy  was  very  much  cut  up  in 
their  hulls  and  spars,  and  a  great  many  men  killed  and 
wounded,  particularly  on  board  of  the  Wolfe  and  Royal 
George.  I  enclose  herewith  a  list  of  the  prisoners  taken  on 
the  5th. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

Return  of  British  Prisoners  of  War  landed  from  on  board  the 
Squadron  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Isaac  Chauncey, 
October  €>th  and  7th,  1813. 

C.  W.  Grant,  lieutenant-colonel,  13.  M.  L.  C. ;  Charles  de 
Villatte,  major,  Watteville  regiment,  lieutenant-colonel  by 
brevet;  Frederick  Zehinder,  captain  do.  major;  P'rancis  Di- 
center,  lieutenant  do.  captain  ;  William  A.  Steele,  lieutenant 
and  adjutant,  89th  do. ;  Arthur  Carter,  lieutenant,  Royal 
Artillery,  do. ;  Charles  Morris,  volunteer,  do.  do. ;  David 
Duval,  lieutenant,  Watteville  regiment,  do.  ;  Albert  Manuel, 
lieutenant,  do.  do. ;  Mort.  M'Mahan,  lieutenant,  8th  or  king's 

do. ;   Orbi,   assistant  surgeon,   Watteville   regiment ; 

Hector  M'Lean,  lieutenant  Royal  Navy,  commanding  sloop 
Drummond ;  James  Jackson,  master's  mate,  do.,  command- 
ing schooner  Hamilton;  David  Wingfield,do.  do.  Confiance; 
Theophilus  Sampson, ,  late  master  of  the  sloop  Bet- 
sey ;  Joseph  Jillet,  sailing-master ;  Joseph  Dennis,  < ; 

John  Segarford,  pilot. 

Non-commissioned  Officers,  Musicians,  Privates,  and  Seamen. 

Royal  Artillery  1 ;  80th  regiment  10;  Watteville  regiment 
186;  Newfoundland  regiment  3 ;  Vqitigeurs  1;  Royal  Na- 
vy 33 — officers  of  the  army  and  navy  IS — total  252. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [295 

CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SQJLJADRON  ON  LAKE  ERIE. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Pern/  to  the  Secretary  of  the 

Navy. 
United  States'  Brig  Niagara,  off" the  Western  Sitter,  Head 

of  Lake  Erie,  September  \Vth,  1813,  4,  P.  M.^ 
Sir,  it  has  pleased  the  Almighty  to  give  to  the  arms  of  the 
United  States  a  signal  victory  over  their  enemies  on  this  lake. 
The  British  squadron,  consisting  of  two  ships,  two  brigs,  one 
schooner,  and  one  sloop,  have  this  moment  surrendered  to 
the  force  under  my  command,  after  a  sharp  conflict. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedi- 
ent servant, 

O.  H.  PERRY. 
The  Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Nary. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Perry  to  the  Secretary  of  the 

Navy. 
United  States*  Schooner  Arid,  Put-in  Bay, 

1.3/7;  September,  1813. 

Sir,  in  my  last  I  informed  you  that  we  had  captured  the 
enemy's  fleet  on  this  lake.  I  have  now  the  honour  to  give 
you  the  most  important  particulars  of  the  action.  On  the 
morning  of  the  10th  instant,  at  sun-rise,  they  were  discover- 
ed from  Put-in  Bay,  when  I  lay  at  anchor  with  the  squadron 
under  my  command.  We  got  under  weigh,  the  wind  light 
at  south-west,  and  stood  for  them.  At  10,  A.  M.,  the  wind 
hauled  to  south-east,  and  brought  us  to  windward  :  formed 
the  line  and  bore  up.  At  fifteen  minutes  before  12,  the  ene,- 
my  commenced  firing;  at  five  minutes  before  12  the  action 
commenced  on  our  part.  Finding  their  fire  very  destructive, 
owing  to  their  long  guns,  and  its  being  mostly  directed  at  the 
Lawrence,  I  made  sail,  and  directed  the  other  vessels  to  fol- 
low, for  the  purpose  of  closing  with  the  enemy.  Every  brace 
and  bowline  being  soon  shot  away,  she  became  unmanagea- 
ble, notwithstanding  the  great  exertions  of  the  sailing-mas- 
ter. In  this  situation  she  sustained  the  action  upwards  of 
two  hours  within  cannister  distance,  until  every  gun  was  ren- 
dered useless,  and  the  greater  part  of  her  crew  either  killed 
or  wounded.  Finding  she  could  no  longer  annoy  the  ene- 
my, I  left  her  in  charge  of  lieutenant  Yarnall,  who  I  was  con- 
vinced, from  the  bravery  already  displayed  by  him,  would  do 
what  would  comport  with  the  honour  of  the  flag.  At  half 
past  two,  the  wind  springing  up,  captain  Elliot  was  enabled 
to  bring  his  vessel,  the  Niagara,  gallantly  into  close  action  ;  I 


296]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

immediately  went  on  board  of  her,  when  he  anticipated  my 
wish,  by  volunteering  to  bring  the  schooners,  which  had  been 
kept  astern  by  the  lightness  of  the  wind,  into  close  action.  It 
was  with  unspeakable  pain  that  I  saw,  soon  after  I  got  on 
board  the  Niagara,  the  flag  of  the  Lawrence  come  down,  alr 
though  I  was  perfectly  sensible  that  she  had  been  defended 
to  the  last,  and  that  to  have  continued  to  make  a  show  of  re- 
sistance would  have  been  a  wanton  sacrifice  of  the  remains 
of  her  brave  crew ;  but  the  enemy  was  not  able  to  take  pos- 
session of  her,  and  circumstances  soon  permitted  her  flag 
again  to  be  hoisted.  At  forty-five  minutes  past  2,  the  signal 
was  made  for  close  action.  The  Niagara  being  very  little 
injured,  I  determined  to  pass  through  the  enemy's  line;  bore 
up,  and  passed  a-head  of  their  two  ships  and  a  brig,  giving  a 
raking  fire  to  them  from  the  starboard  guns,  and  to  a  large 
schooner  and  sloop  from  the  larboard  side,  at  half  pistol  shot 
distance.  The  smaller  vessels  at  this  time  having  got  within 
grape  and  cannister  distance,  under  the  direction  of  captain 
Elliot,  and  keeping  up  a  well-directed  fire,  the  two  ships,  a 
brig,  and  a  schooner  surrendered,  a  schooner  and  sloop  ma- 
king a  vain  attempt  to  escape. 

Those  officers  and  men  who  were  immediately  under  my 
observation  evinced  the  greatest  gallantry,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  that  all  the  others  conducted  themselves  as  became 
American  officers  and  seamen.  Lieutenant  Yarnall,  first  of 
the  Lawrence,  although  several  times  wounded,  refused  to 
quit  the  deck.  Midshipman  Forrest,  doing  duty  as  lieutenant, 
and  sailing-master  Taylor  were  of  great  assistance  to  me.  I 
have  great  pain  in  stating  to  you  the  death  of  lieutenant  Brook 
of  the  marines,  and  midshipman  Laub,  both  of  the  Lawrence, 
nnd  midshipman  John  Clarke,  of  the  Scorpion:  they  were 
valuable  and  promising  officers.  Mr.  Hambleton,  purser, 
who  volunteered  his  services  on  deck,  was  severely  wounded 
late  in  the  action.  Midshipmen  Claxton  and  Swartwout,  of 
the  Lawrence,  were  severely  wounded.  On  board  of  the 
Niagara,  lieutenants  Smith  and  Edwards,  and  midshipman 
Webster,  doing  duty  as  sailing-master,  behaved  in  a  very 
handsome  manner.  Captain  Brevoort,  of  the  army,  who  acted 
as  a  volunteer,  in  the  capacity  of  a  marine  officer  on  board 
that  vessel,  is  an  excellent  and  brave  officer,  and  with  his 
musketry  did  great  execution.  Lieutenant  Turner,  com- 
manding the  Caledonia,  brought  that  vessel  into  action  in  the 
most  able  manner,  and  is  an  officer  that  in  all  situations  may 
be  relied  on.  The  Ariel,  lieutenant  Parker,  and  the  Scorpi- 
on, sailing-master  Champion,  were  enabled  to  get  early  into 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [297 

action,  and  were  of  great  service.  Captain  Elliot  speaks  in 
the  highest  terms  of  Mr.  Magrath,  purser,  who  had  been 
despatched  in  a  boat  on  service  previous  to  my  getting  on 
board  the  Niagara,  and,  being  a  seaman,  since  the  action  has 
rendered  essential  service,  in  taking  charge  of  one  of  the  pri- 
zes. Of  captain  Elliot,  already  so  well  known  to  the  govern- 
ment, it  would  be  almost  superfluous  to  speak.  In  this  action 
he  evinced  his  characteristic  bravery  and  judgment,  and,  since 
the  close  of  the  action,  has  given  me  the  most  able  and  essen- 
tial assistance. 

I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  you  a  return  of  the  killed  and 
wounded,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  relative  force  of 
the  squadrons.  The  captain  and  first  lieutenant  of  the  Queen 
Charlotte, and  first  lieutenant  of  the  Detroit,  were  killed. 
Captain  Barclay,  senior  officer,  and  commander  of  the  Lady 
Prevost,  severely  wounded.  The  commander  of  the  Hunter 
and  Chippaway  slightly  wounded.  Their  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  ascertain  ;  it  must,  how- 
ever, have  been  very  great. 

Very  respectfully,  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  obe- 
dient servant, 

O,  H.  PERRY. 
The  Hon.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Statement  of  the  Force  of  the  British  Squadron, 
Ship  Detroit,  19  guns,  one  on  a  pivot,  and  2  howitzers; 

Queen  Charlotte,  17  do.  1  do.;  schooner  Lady  Prevost,  13 

do.  1  do. ;  brig  Hunter,  10  do. ;  sloop  Little  Belt,  3  ;  schr. 

Chippeway,  1  do.  and  2  swivels — 63  guns. 

Note — The  Detroit  is  a  new  ship,  very  strongly  built,  and 

mounts  long  twenty-fours,  eighteens,  and  twelves. 

Statement  of  the  Force  of  the  United  States*  Squadron. 

Brig  Lawrence,  20  guns  ;  Niagara,  20  do. ;  Caledonia,  3 
do.;  schooner  Ariel,  4  do.  (one  burst  early  in  the  action); 
Scorpion,  2  do. ;  Somers,  2  do.  and  2  swivels  ;  sloop  Trippe,  1 
do. ;  schooner  Tigress,  1  do. ;  Porcupine,  1  do. — 54  guns. 

The  exact  number  of  the  enemy's  force  has  not  been  as- 
certained ;  but  I  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  it  exceeded 
ours  by  nearly  one  hundred  men. 

List  of  Killed  and  Wounded  on  board  the  United  States'1  Squad- 
ron under  command  of  0.  H.  Perry,  Esquire,  in  the  action 
of  10th  September,  1813,  viz. 

Lawrence,  killed  22,  wounded  61,  total  83  ;  Niagara,  kil- 
led 2,  wounded  25,  total  27 ;  Caledonia,  wounded  3  ;  Somers, 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

wounded  2;  Ariel,   killed   1,  wounded  3,  total  4;  Trippc, 
wounded  2 ;  Scorpion,  killed  2 — killed  27,  wounded  96, 
tal  123. 

S.  HAMBLETON,  Purser. 

O.  H.  PERRY,  Captain  and 

Senior  officer. 

[On  the  morning  of  the  action  the  sick  list  of  the  Lawrence 
contained  31,  that  of  the  Niagara  28,  unfit  for  duty.  In  the 
small  vessels,  51  were  unfit  for  service  two  days  previous  to 
the  action.] 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  ARMY  UNDER  GENERAL 
PROCTOR. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  General  Harrison  to  the  Department  of 
War.  Head- Quarters,  near  Moravian  Town,  on  the  River 
Tliames,  80  miles  from  Detroit,  5th  Oct.  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  by  the  Messing 
of  Providence,  the  army  under  my  command  has  this  even- 
ing obtained  a  complete  victory  over  the  combined  Indian 
and  British  forces  under  the  command  of  general  Proctor. 
I  believe  that  nearly  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  regulars  are 
taken  or  killed.  Amongst  the  former  are  all  the  superior 
officers  excepting  general  Proctor. 

My  mounted  men  are  in  pursuit  of  him.  Our  loss  is  tri- 
fling. The  brave  colonel  R.  M.  Johnson  is  the  only  officer 
whom  I  have  heard  of  that  is  wounded,  he  badly,  but  I  hope 
not  dangerously.  I  have  the  honour,  &c. 

WM.  H.  HARRISON. 
Hon.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  War. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Major -General  Harrison  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War. 

Head- Barters,  Detroit,  9th  Oct.  1813. 
Sir,  in  my  letter  from  Sandwich  of  the  30th  ultimo,  I  did 
myself  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  I  was  preparing  t,o 
pursue  the  enemy  the  following  day.  From  various  causes, 
however,  I  was  unable  to  put  the  troops  in  motion  until  the 
morning  of  the  2d  instant,  and  then  to  take  with  me  only 
about  140  of  the  regular  troops,  Johnson's  mounted  regiment 
and  such  of  governor  Shelby's  volunteers  as  were  fit  for  a 
rapid  march,  the  whole  amounting  to  about  350O  men.  To 
general  M'  Arthur  (with  about  700  effectives)  the  protecting 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [299 

of  this  place  and  the  sick  was  committed.  General  Cass's 
brigade  and  the  corps  of  lieutenant-colonel  Ball  were  left  at 
Sandwich,  with  orders  to  follow  me  as  soon  as  the  men  re- 
ceived their  knapsacks  and  blankets,  which  had  been  left  on 
an  island  in  lake  Erie. 

The  unavoidable  delay  at  Sandwich  was  attended  with  no 
disadvantage  to  us.  General  Proctor  had  posted  himself  at 
Dalson's  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Thames  (or  Trench),  56 
miles  from  this  place,  where  I  was  informed  he  intended  to 
fortify,  and  wait  to  receive  me.  He  must  have  believed, 
however,  that  I  had  no  disposition  to  follow  him,  or  that  he 
had  secured  my  continuance  here,  by  the  reports  that  were 
circulated  that  the  Indians  would  attack  and  destroy  this 
place  upon  the  advance  of  the  army;  as  he  neglected  to  com- 
mence the  breaking  up  the  bridges  until  the  night  of  the  2d 
instant.  On  that  night  our  army  reached  the  river,  which  is 
25  miles  from  Sandwich  and  is  one  of  four  streams  crossing 
our  route,  over  all  of  which  are  bridges,  and  being  deep  and 
muddy,  are  unfordable  for  a  considerable  distance  into  the 
country — the  bridge  here  was  found  entire,  and  in  the  morn- 
ing I  proceeded  with  Johnson's  regiment  to  save  if  possible 
the  others.  At  the  second  bridge  over  a  branch  of  the  river 
Thames,  we  were  fortunate  enough  to  capture  a  lieutenant  of 
dragoons  and  11  privates,  who  had  been  sent  by  general 
Proctor  to  destroy  them.  From  the  prisoners  I  learned  that 
the  third  bridge  was  broken  up,  and  that  the  enemy  had  no 
certain  information  of  our  advance.  The  bridge  having  been 
imperfectly  destroyed,  was  soon  repaired,  and  the  army  en- 
camped at  Drake's  farm,  four  miles  below  Dalson's. 

The  river  Thames,  along  the  banks  of  which  our  route  lay, 
is  a  fine  deep  stream,  navigable  for  vessels  of  considerable 
burthen,  after  the  passage  of  the  bar  at  its  mouth,  over  which 
there  is  six  and  a  half  feet  water. 

The  baggage  of  the  army  was  brought  from  Detroit  in 
boats  protected  by  three  gun-boats,  which  commodore  Perry 
had  furnished  for  the  purpose,  as  well  as  to  cover  the  pas- 
sage of  the  army  over  the  Thames  itself,  or  the  mouths  of  its 
tributary  streams  ;  the  banks  being  low  and  the  country  ge- 
nerally open  (prairies)  as  high  as  Dalson's,  these  vessels  were 
well  calculated  for  that  purpose.  Above  Dalson's  however, 
the  character  of  the  river  and  adjacent  country  is  considera- 
bly changed.  The  former,  though  still  deep,  is  very  narrow, 
and  its  banks  high  and  woody.  The  commodore  and  myself 
therefore  agreed  upon  the  propriety  of  leaving  the  boats  un- 
der a  guard  of  150  infantry,  and  I  determined  to  trust  to  for- 


300]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

tune  and  the  bravery  of  my  troops  to  effect  the  passage  oi 
the  river.  Below  a  place  called  Chatham,  and  four  miles 
above  Dalson's,  is  the  third  unfordable  branch  of  the  Thames  ; 
the  bridge  over  its  mouth  had  been  taken  up  by  the  Indians, 
as  well  as  that  at  M'Gregor's  mills,  one  mile  above — several 
hundred  of  the  Indians  remained  to  dispute  our  passage,  and, 
upon  the  arrival  of  the  advanced  guard,  commenced  a  heavy 
fire  from  the  opposite  bank  of  the  creek  as  well  as  that  of  the 
river.  Believing  that  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  was 
there,  I  halted  the  army,  formed  in  order  of  battle,  and 
brought  up  our  two  six-pounders  to  cover  the  party  that  were 
ordered  to  repair  the  bridge — a  few  shot  from  those  pieces 
soon  drove  off  the  Indians,  and  enabled  us,  in  two  hours,  to 
repair  the  bridge  and  cross  the  troops.  Colonel  Johnson's 
mounted  regiment  being  upon  the  right  of  the  army,  had 
seized  the  remains  of  the  bridge  at  the  mills  under  a  heavy 
fire  from  the  Indians.  Our  loss  upon  this  occasion  was  two 
killed  and  three  or  four  wounded — that  of  the  enemy  was 
ascertained  to  be  considerably  greater.  A  house  near  the 
bridge  containing  a  very  considerable  number  of  muskets 
had  been  set  on  fire — but  it  was  extinguished  by  our  troops 
and  the  arms  saved.  At  the  first  farm  above  the  bridge,  we 
found  one  of  the  enemy's  vessels  on  fire,  loaded  with  arms  and 
ordnance  stores,  and  learned  that  they  were  a  few  miles  a-head 
of  us,  still  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  with  the  great  body 
of  the  Indians.  At  Bowles's  farm,  four  miles  from  the  bridge, 
we  halted  for  the  night,  found  two  other  vessels  and  a  large 
distillery  filled  with  ordnance  and  other  valuable  stores  to  an 
immense  amount  in  flames — it  was  impossible  to  put  out  the 
fire — two  24-pounclers  with  their  carriages  were  taken  and  a 
large  quantity  of  ball  and  shells  of  various  sizes.  The  army 
was  put  in  motion  early  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  ;  I  pushed 
on  in  advance  with  the  mounted  regiment,  and  requested  go- 
vernor Shelby  to  follow  as  expeditiously  as  possible  with  the 
infantry ;  the  governor's  zeal  and  that  of  his  men  enabled 
them  to  keep  up  with  the  cavalry,  and,  by  9  o'clock,  we  were  at 
Arnold's  mills,  having  taken  in  the  course  of  the  morning  two 
gun-boats  and  several  batteaux  loaded  with  provisions  and 
ammunition. 

A  rapid  at  the  river  at  Arnold's  mills  affords  the  only  for- 
ding to  be  met  with  for  a  very  considerable  distance,  but, 
upon  examination,  it  was  found  too  deep  for  the  infantry. 
Having,  however,  fortunately  taken  two  or  three  boats  and 
some  Indian  canoes  on  the  spot,  and  obliging  the  horsemen 
to  take  a  footman  behind  each,  the  whole  were  safely  crossed 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [301 

/clock.  Eight  miles  from  the  crossing  we  passed  a 
farm,  where  a  part  of  the  British  troops  had  encamped  the 
night  before,  under  the  command  of  colonel  Warburton. 
The  detachment  with  general  Proctor  had  arrived  the  day 
before  at  the  Moravian  towns,  four  miles  higher  up.  Being 
now  certainly  near  the  enemy,  I  directed  the  advance  of 
Johnson's  regiment  to  accelerate  their  march  for  the  purpose 
of  procuring  intelligence.  The  officer  commanding  it,  in  a 
short  time,  sent  to  inform  me,  that  his  progress  was  slopped 
by  the  enemy,  who  were  formed  across  our  line  of  march. 
One  of  the  enemy's  waggoners  being  also  taken  prisoner, 
from  the  information  received  from  him,  and  my  own  obser- 
vation, assisted  by  some  of  my  officers,  I  soon  ascertained 
enough  of  their  position  and  order  of  battle,  to  determine 
that,  which  it  was  proper  for  me  to  adopt. 

I  have  the  honour  herewith  to  enclose  you  my  general 
order  of  the  27th  ult.  prescribing  the  order  of  march  and  of 
battle  when  the  whole  army  should  act  together.  But  as  the 
number  and  description  of  the  troops  had  been  essentially 
changed  since  the  issuing  of  the  order,  it.  became  necessary 
to  make  a  corresponding  alteration  in  their  disposition.  From 
the  place  where  our  army  was  last  halted  to  the  P»Ioraviau 
towns,  a  distance  of  three  and  a  half  miles,  the  road  passes 
through  a  beech  forest  without  any  clearing,  and  for  the  first 
two  miles  near  to  the  bank  of  the  river.  At  from  two  to  three 
hundred  yards  from  the  river,  a  swamp  extends  parallel  to  it, 
throughout  the  whole  distance.  The  intermediate  ground  is 
dry,  and  although  the  trees  are  tolerably  thick,  it  is  in  many 
places  clear  of  under-brush.  Across  this  strip  of  land,  its 
left  appuyed  upon  the  river,  supported  by  artillery  placed  in 
the  wood,  their  right  in  the  swamp,  covered  by  the  whole  of 
their  Indian  force,  the  British  were  drawn  up. 

The  troops  at  my  disposal  consisted  of  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  regulars  of  the  27th  regiment,  five  brigades  of 
Kentucky  volunteer  militia  infantry,  under  his  excellency  go- 
vernor Shelby,  averaging  less  than  five  hundred  men,  and 
colonel  Johnson's  regiment  of  mounted  infantry,  making  in 
the  whole  an  aggregate  something  above  three  thousand.  No 
disposition  of  an  army  opposed  to  an  Indian  force  can  be 
safe,  unless  it  is  secured  on  the  flanks  and  in  the  i-ear.  I  had 
therefore  no  difficulty  in  arranging  the  infamry  conformably  to 
my  general  order  of  battle.  General  Trotter's  brigade  of  500 
men  formed  the  front  line,  his  right  upon  >.he  road  and  his  left 
upon  the  swamp.  General  King's  brigade,  as  a  second  line, 
15O  yards  in  the  rear  of  Trotter's,  and  Chiles's  brigade,  as  a 

VOL.  i.  PART  ii.  FR  r] 


302]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

corps  of  reserve,  in  the  rear  of  it.  These  three  brigades 
fonm-tl  the  command  of  major  general  Henry.  The  whole 
of  general  Desna's  division,  consisting  of  two  brigades,  were 
formed  en  potence  upon  the  left  of  Trotter. 

Whilst  I  was  engaged  in  forming  the  infantry,  I  had  di- 
rected colonel  Johnson's  regiment,  which  was  still  in  front, 
to  be  formed  in  two  lines  opposite  to  the  enemy,  and,  upon 
the  advance  of  the  infantry,  to  take  ground  to  the  left,  and 
forming  upon  that  flank,  to  endeavour  to  turn  the  right  of  the 
Indians.  A  moment's  reflection,  however,  convinced  me  that 
from  the  thickness  of  the  woods  and  swampiness  of  the 
ground,  they  would  be  unable  to  do  any  thing  on  horseback, 
and  there  was  no  time  to  dismount  them  and  place  their  hor- 
ses in  security  ;  I  therefore  determined  to  refuse  my  left  to 
the  Indians,  and  to  break  the  British  lines  at  once,  by  a  charge 
of  the  mounted  infantry.  The  measure  was  not  sanctioned 
by  any  thing  that  I  had  ever  seen  or  heard  of;  but  I  was 
fully  convinced  that  it  would  succeed.  The  American  back- 
woods-men ride  better  in  the  woods  than  any  other  people. 
A  musket  or  rifle  is  no  impediment  to  them,  being  used  to 
earn  them  on  horseback  from  their  earliest  youth.  I  was 
persuaded  too  that  the  enemy  would  be  quite  unprepared  for 
the  shock,  and  that  they  could  not  resist  it.  Conformably  to 
this  idea,  I  directed  the  regiment  to  be  drawn  up  in  close  co- 
lumn, with 'its  right  at  the  distance  of  fifty  yards  from  the 
road,  (that  it  might  be  in  some  measure  protected  by  the 
rtiIL-ry),  its  left  upon  the  swamp,  and  to 
•'-•d  as  soon  as  the  enemy  delivered  their  fire, 
troops  of  the  27th  regiment,  under  their  co- 
(Paul)  occupied,  in  column  of  sections  of  four,  the  small 
spa.  ,  n  the  road  and  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  seiz- 

the  enemy's  artillery,  and  some  ten  <or  twelve  friendly 

Indians  were  directed  to  move  under  the  bank.  The  crotchet 

by  the  front  line  and  general  Desha's  division  was 

iant  point.   -  At  that  place  the  venerable  governor  of 

.uckv  was  posted,  who,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six,  preserves 
::ll  the  vigour  of  youth,  the  ardent  zeal  which  distinguished 
in   the  revolutionary  war,    and  the  undaunted  bravery 
which  he  manifested  at  King's  Mountain.  With  my  aids-de- 
camp, the  acting  assistant  adjutant-general,  captain  Butler, 

gallant  friend,  commodore  Perry,  who  did  me  the  honour 

as  my  volunteer  aid-de-camp,  and  brigadier-general 

Cass,  who,  having  no  command,  tendered  me  his  assistance, 

I  placed  myself  at  the  head'  of  the  front  line  of  infantry,  to 

direct  the  movement  of  the  cavalry,  and  give  them  the  neces- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [303 

sary  support.  The  army  had  moved  on  in  this  order  but  a 
short  distance,  when  the  mounted  men  received  the  fire  of 
the  British  line  and  were  ordered  to  charge;  the  horses  in 
the  front  of  the  column  recoiled  from  the  fir  ;  another  was 
given  by  the  enemy,  and  our  column,  getting  in  motion,  broke 
through  the  enemy  with  irresistible  force.  In  one  minute  the 
contest  in  front  was  over  ;  the  British  officers,  seeing  no  hope 
of  reducing  their  disordered  ranks  to  order,  and  our  mount 
ed  men  wheeling  upon  them  and  pouring  in  a  destructive 
fire,  immediately  surrendered.  It  is  certain  that  three,  only 
of  our  troops  were  wounded  in  this  charge.  Upon  the  left, 
however,  the  contest  was  more  severe  with  the  Indians.  Co- 
lonel Johnson,  who  commanded  on  that  flank  of  his  regiment, 
received  a  most  galling  fire  from  them,  which  was  returned 
with  great  effect.  The  Indians  still  further  to  the  right  ad- 
vanced and  fell  in  with  our  front  line  of  infantry,  near  its 
junction  with  Desha's  division,  and  for  a  moment  made  an 
impression  upon  it.  His  excellency  governor  Shelby,  howe- 
ver brought  up  a  regiment  to  his  support,  and  the  enemy  re- 
ceiving a  severe  fire  in  front,  and  a  part  of  'Johnson's  regi- 
ment having  gained  their  rear,  retreated  with  precipitation. 
Their  loss  was  very  considerable  in  the  action,  and  many 
were  killed  in  their  retreat. 

I  can  give  no  satisfactory  information  of  the  number  of  In- 
dians that  were  in  the  action ;  but  they  must  have  been  con- 
siderably upwards  of  1000.  From  the  documents  in  my 
possession  (general  Proctor's  official  letters,  all  of  which  are 
taken),  and  from  the  information  of  respectable  inhabitants 
of  this  territory,  the  Indians  kept  in  pay  by  the  British  were 
much  more  numerous  than  has  been  generally  supposed.  In 
a  letter  to  general  De  Roitenburg,  of  the  27th  insnmt,  genera! 
Proctor  speaks  of  having  prevailed  upon  most  of  the  Indians 
to  accompany  him.  Of  these  it  is  certain  that  fiity  or  sixty 
Wyandot  warriors  abandoned  him--. 

The  number  of  our  troops  were  certainly  greater  than  that 
of  the  enemy ;  but  when  it  is  recollected  that  they  had  chosen 
a  position,  that  effectually  secured  their  flank,  which  it  was 
impossible  for  us  to  turn,  and  that  we  could  not  present  to 
them  a  line  more  extended  than  their  own,  it  will  not  be  con- 
sidered arrogant  to 'claim  for  my  troops  the  palm  of  superior 
bravery. 

*  A  British  oflicer  of  high  rank  assured  one  of  my  aids-de-camp,  that 
on  the  day  of  our  landing  general  Proctor  had  at  his  disposal  upvv  ards  of 
3000  Indian  warriors,  but  asserted  that  the  greatest  part  had  left  him. 
previous  to  the  action. 


S04]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

In  communicating  to  the  president,  through  you,  sir,  rny 
opinion  of  the  conduct  of  the  officers  who  served  under  my 
command,  I  am  at  a  loss  how  to  mention  that  of  governor 
Shelby,  being  convinced  that  no  eulogium  of  mine  can  reach 
his  merits.  The  governor  of  an  independent  state,  greatly 
my  superior  in  years,  in  experience,  and  in  military  charac- 
ter, he  placed  himself  under  my  command,  and  was  not  more 
remarkable  for  his  zeal  and  activity,  than  for  the  promptitude 
and  cheerfulness  with  which  he  obeyed  my  orders.  The  ma- 
jor-generals Henry  and  Desha,  and  the  brigadiers  Allen, 
Caldwell,  King,  Chiles,  and  Trotter,  all  of  the  Kentucky  vo- 
lunteers, manifested  great  zeal  and  activity.  Of  governor 
Shelby's  staff,  his  adjutant-general,  colonel  McDowell,  and 
his  quarter-master-general,  colonel  Walker,  rendered  great 
service,  as  did  his  aids-de-camp,  general  Adair,  and  majors 
Barry  and  Crittenden.  The  military  skill  of  the  former  was 
of  great  service  to  us,  and  the  activity  of  the  two  latter  gen- 
tlemen could  not  be  surpassed.  Illness  deprived  me  of  the  ta- 
lents of  my  adjutant-general  col.  Gaines,  who  was  left  at  Sand- 
wich. His  duties  were,  however,  ably  performed  by  the  act- 
ing assistant  adjutant-general,  captain  Butler.  My  aids-de- 
camp,  lieutenant  Ol Fallen  and  captain  Todd,  of  the  line,  and 
my  volunteer  aids,  John  Speed  Smith  and  John  Chambers, 
esquire,  have  rendered  me  the  most  important  services  from 
the  opening  of  the  campaign.  I  have  already  stated  that  ge- 
neral Cass  and  commodore  Perry  assisted  me  in  forming  the 
troops  for  action.  The  former  is  an  officer  of  the  highest 
merit,  and  the  appearance  of  the  brave  commodore  cheered 
and  animated  every  breast. 

It  would  be  useless,  sir,  after  stating  the  circumstances  of 
the  action,  to  pass  encomiums  upon  colonel  Johnson  and  his 
regiment.  Veterans  could  not  have  manifested  more  firm- 
ness. The  colonel's  numerous  wounds  prove  that  he  was  in 
the  post  of  danger.  Lieutenant-colonel  James  Johnson  and 
the  majors  Payne  and  Thompson  were  equally  active,  though 
more  fortunate.  Major  Wood,  of  the  engineers,  already  dis- 
tinguished by  his  conduct  at  Fort  Mcigs,  attended  the  army 
with  two  six-pounders.  Having  no  use  for  them  in  the  ac- 
tion he  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  with  major 
Payne  of  the  mounted  regiment,  two  of  my  aids-de-camp, 
Todd  and  Chambers,  and  three  privates,  continued  it  for  se- 
veral miles  after  the  rest  of  the  troops  had  halted,  and  made 
many  prisoners. 

I  left  the  army  before  an  official  r-turn  of  the  prisoners,  or 
that  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  was  made  out.     It  was,  how- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [305 

ever,  ascertained  that  the  former  amounts  to  six  hundred  and 
one  regulars,  including  25  <  fficers.  Our  loss  is  seven  killed 
•and  twenty-two  wounded,  five  of  which  have  since  died.  Of 
the  British  troops  twelve  were  kill'  d  and  twenty-two  wound- 
ed. The  Indians  suffered  most,  thirty-three  of  them  having 
been  found  on  the  ground,  besides  those  killed  on  the  retreat. 

On  the  day  of  the  action,  six  pieces  of  brass  artillery  were 
taken,  and  two  24-pound  ers  the  day  before.  Several  others 
were  discovered  in  the  river,  and  can,  be  easily  procured.  Of 
the  brass  pieces  three  are  the  trophies  of  our  revolutionary 
war,  that  were  taken  at  Saratoga  and  York,  and  surrendered 
by  general  Hull.  The  number  of  small  arms  taken  by  us  and 
destroyed  by  the  enemy  must  amount  to  upwards  of  5000 ; 
most  of  them  had  been  ours,  and  taken  by  the  enemy  at  the 
surrender  of  Detroit,  at  the  river  Raisin,  and  colonel  Dudley's 
defeat.  I  believe  that  the  enemy  retains  no  other  military 
trophy  of  their  victories  than  the  standard  of  the  4th  regi- 
ment. They  were  not  magnanimous  enough  to  bring  that  of 
the  41st  regiment  into  the  field,  or  it  would  have  been  taken. 

You  have  been  informed,  sir,  of  the  conduct  of  the  troops 
under  my  command  in  action  ;  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to 
inform  you,  that  thev  merit  also  the  approbation  of  their  con- 
duct, in  submitting  to  the  greatest  privations  with  the  utmost 
cheerfulness. 

The  infantry  were  entirely  without  tents,  and  for  several 
days  the  whole  army  subsisted  upon  fresh  beef  without  bread 
or  salt.  I  have  the  honour  to  b<-,  &c. 

WILLIAM  H.  HARRISON. 
General  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  War. 

P.  S.  General  Proctor  escaped  by  the  fleetness  of  his 
horses,  escorted  by  40  dragoons  and  a  number  of  mounted 
Indians. 


BRITISH    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    DEFEAT    OF    GENERAL    PROCTOR 
AND    CAPTAIN    BARCLAY. 

Montreal,  October  18^,  1813. 

GENERAL   ORDERS. 

The  commander  of  the  forces  has  the  deepest  regret  in 
announcing  to  the  army,  that  lieutenant  Reiffenstein,  staff-ad- 
jutant, arrived  yesterday,  and  is  the  bearer  of  the  following 
unpleasant  intelligence.  That  major-general  Proctor  having 
sustained,  by  the  unfortunate  capture  of  the  squadron  on 
Lake  Erie,  the  loss  of  a  very  considerable  portion  of  his 


COG]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

military  force,  which  was  serving  on  board  that  fleet,  as  well 
as  the  principal  heavy  ordnance  necessary  for  the  de-fence  of 
his  military  positions — Commenced  his  retreat  from  the  fort 
of  Sandwich  on  the  24-ih  September,  having  previously  dis- 
mantled the  posts  of  Amherstburg  and  Detroit,  and  binned 
and  destroyed  every  public  building  and  stores  of  every  de- 
scription. 

The  retreating  regular  force  consisting  of  a  small  detach- 
ment of  royal  artillery,  a  troop  of  provincial  dragoons,  and 
the  remains  of  the  41st  n  giment,  in  all  about  450  rank  and 
file — which  was  accompanied  by  a  body  of  Indian  warriors 
from  1OOO  to  1500. 

The  enemy's  fleet  and  army  appeared  oflf  Amherstburg  on 
the  26th  September,  and  landed  on  the  following  day,  but 
soon  re-embarked  their  troops  and  proceeded  by  Lake  St. 
Clair,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Thames  river.  The  American 
army  was  again  landed,  and,  accompanied  by  gun-boats,  fol- 
lowed, the  route  of  major-general  Proctor's  corps,  which 
having  been  much  retarded  b\  the  slow  progress  of  loaded 
batteaux,  they  were  enabled  to  come  up  with  the  rear  guard 
and  loaded  boats  on  the  3d  instant,  and  succeeded  in  captur- 
ing the  whole.  Major-general  Proctor  being  thus  deprived 
of  the  means  of  supporting  his  little  army,  was  under  the 
necessity  of  awaiting  the  enemy's  attack  ;  which  took  ]•" 
at  4  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  5ih  instant,  near  the  Mo- 
ravian village. 

A  six-pounder  on  the  flank  was,  by  some  unpardonable  ne- 
glect, left  destitute  of  ammunition,  and  die  enemy,  availing 
himself  of  this  unfortunate  circumstance,  pressed  upon  that 
part  of  the  line,  which,  wanting  the  support  of  artillery,  \vas 
forced  by  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy.  Major-ge- 
neral Proctor  exerted  himself  to  rally  the  troops,  \\  ho  being 
exhausted  with  fatigue,  not  having  received  any  provisions 
the  preceding  day,  were  unable  to  make  adequate  exertions 
to  resist  the  superior  numbers  by  which  they  were  assailed. 

The  safety  of  major-general  Procter,  the  officers  of  his 
personal  staff,  and  some  few  others,  together  with  about  50 
men  has  only  as  yet  been  ascertained.  The  Indian  warriors 
retreated  towards  Mackedash. 

The  enemy's  forces  emploved  on  this  service  is  estimated 
from  1O  to  12,000  strong,  including  troops  of  every  descrip- 
tion. 

EDWARD  BAYNES,  Adj.-Gcn. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [307 

GENERAL    ORDER 

Head- Barter s^  Montreal,  Nov.  21. 

His  excellency  the  commander  of  the  fora  s  has  received 
an  official 'report  from  major-general  Prortor  of  the  affair 
which  took,  place  on  the  5th  October,  near  the  Moravian  vil- 
lage, and  he  has  in  vain  sought  in  it,  for  grounds  to  palliate 
the  report  made  to  his  excellency  by  staff-adjutant  Rciffen- 
stein,  upon  which  the  general  order  of  the  18th  Oto'uer  was 
founded — on  the  contrary,  that  statement  remains  confirmed 
in  all  the  principal  events  which  marked  that  disgraceful  day ; 
the  precipitancy  with  which  the  staff-adjutant  retreated  from 
the  field  of  action  prevented  his  ascertaining  the  loss  sus- 
tained by  the  division  on  that  occasion  ;  it  also  led  him  most 
grossly  to  exaggerate  the  enemy's  force,  and  to  misrepresent 
the  conduct  of  the  Indian  warriors,  who,  instead  of  retreat- 
ing towards  Mackedash,  as  he  had  stated,  gallantly  main- 
tained the  conflict,  under  their  brave  chief,  Tecumseh,  and 
in  their  turn  harrassed  the  American  army  on  its  retreat  to 
Detroit. 

The  subjoined  return  states  the  loss  the  right  division  has 
sustained  in  the  action  of  the  fleet  on  Lake  Erie,  on  the  10th 
of  September,  and  in  the  affair  of  the  5th  October,  near  the 
Moravian  village  ;  in  the  latter  but  very  few  appear  to  have 
been  rescued  by  an  honourable  death  from  the  ignominy  of 
passing  under  the  American  yoke,  nor  are  there  many  whose 
•wounds  plead  in  mitigation  of  this  reproach.  The  right  di- 
vision appears  to  have  been  incumbered  with  an  unmanageable 
Joad.  of  unnecessary  and  forbidden  private  baggage — -ivhile 
the  requisite  arrangements  for  the  expeditious  and  certain 
conveyance  of  the  ammunition  and  provisions,  the  sole  ob- 
jects worthy  of  consideration,  appear  to  have  been  totally  ne- 
glected, as  well  as  all  those  ordinary  measures,  resorted  to, 
by  officers  of  intelligence,  to  retard,  and  impede  the  advance 
of  a  pursuing  enemy.  The  result  affords  but  too  fatal  a  proof 
of  this  unjustifiable  neglect.  The  right  division  had  quitted 
Sandwich  on  us  retreat,  on  the  26th  of  September,  having 
had  ample  time  for  every  previous  arrangement;  on  the  2d 
October  following,  the  enemy  pursued  by  the  same  route, 
and  on  the  4th  succeeded  in  capturing  all  the  stores  of  the 
division,  and  on  the  following  day  attacked  and  defeated  it, 
almost  without  a  struggle. 

With  heartfelt  pride  and  satisfaction  the  commander  of 
the  forces  had  lavished  on  the  right  division  of  ihis  army, 
that  tribute  of  praise  which  was  so  justly  due  to  its  former 
gallantry  and  steady  discipline.  It  is  with  poignant  grief  and 


308]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

mortification  that  he  now  beholds  its  well  earned  laurels  tar- 
nished, and  its  conduct  calling  loudly  for  reproach  and  cen- 
sure. 

The  commander  of  the  forces  appeals  to  the  genuine  feel- 
ings of  the  British  soldier,  from  whom  he  neither  conceals 
the  extent  of  the  loss  the  army  has  suffered,  nor  the  far  more 
to  be  lamented  injury  it  has  sustained  in  its  wounded  ho- 
nour, confident  that  but  one  sentiment  will  animate  every 
breast,  and  that,  zealous  to  wash  out  the  stain  which,  by  a 
most  extraordinary  and  unaccountable  infatuation,  has  fallen 
on  a  formerly  deserving  portion  of  the  army ;  all  will  vie  to 
emulate  the  glorious  achievements  recently  performed  by  a 
small  but  highly  spirited  and  well  disciplined  division,  led  by 
officers  possessed  of  enterprise,  intelligence,  and  gallantry, 
nobly  evincing  what  British  soldiers  can  perform,  when  sus- 
ceptible of  no  fear  but  that  of  failing  in  the  discharge  of  their 
duty. 

His  excellency  considers  it  an  act  of  justice  to  exonerate 
most  honourably  from  this  censure  the  brave  soldiers  of  the 
right  division  who  were  serving  as  marines  on  board  the 
squadron  on  Lake  Erie.  The  commander  of  the  forces  hav- 
ing received  the  official  report  of  captain  Barclay  of  the  action 
which  took  place  on  Lake  Erie,  on  the  10th  of  September, 
when  that  gallant  officer,  from  circumstances  of  imperious 
necessity,  was  compelled  to  seek  the  superior  force  of  the 
enemy,  and  to  maintain  an  arduous  and  long  contested  action, 
under  circumstances  of  accumulating  ill  fortune. 

Captain  Barclay  represents  that  the  wind,  which  was  fa- 
vourable early  in  the  day,  suddenly  changed,  giving  the  ene- 
my the  weather  gage,  and  that  this  important  advantage  was 
shortly  after  the  commencement  of  the  engagement  heighten- 
ed by  the  fall  of  captain  Finnis,  the  commander  of  the  Queen 
Charlotte*  In  the  death  of  that  intrepid  and  intelligent  offi- 
cer captain  Barclay  laments  the  loss  of  his  main  support. 
The  fall  of  captain  Finnis  was  soon  followed  by  that  of  lieu- 
tenant Stokoe,  whose  country  was  deprived  of  his  services  at 
this  very  period,  leaving  the  command  of  the  Queen  Char- 
lotte to  provincial  lieutenant  Irvine,  who  conducted  himself 
with  great  courage,  but  was  too  limited  in  experience  to  sup- 
ply the  place  of  such  an  officer  as  captain  Finnis,  and  in  con- 
sequence this  vessel  proved  of  far  less  assistance  than  might 
be  expected. 

The  action  commenced  about  a  quarter  before  12  o'clock^ 
and  continued  with  great  fury  until  half  past  2,  when  the 
American  commodore  quitted  his  ship,  which  struck  shortly 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [309 

after  to  that  commanded  by  captain  Barclay  (the  Detroit). 
Hitherto  the  determined  valour  displayed  by  the  British 
squadron  had  surmounted  every  disadvantage,  and  the  day 
was  in  our  favour  ;  but  the  contest  had  arrived  at  that  period 
when  valour  alone  was  unavailing.  The  Detroit  and  Queen 
Charlotte  were  perfect  wrecks,  and  required  the  utmost  skill 
of  seamanship,  while  the  commanders  and  second  officers  of 
every  vessel  were  either  killed  or  wounded  ;  not  more  than 
fifty  British  seamen  were  dispersed  in  the  crews  of  the  squad- 
ron, and  of  these  a  great  proportion  had  fallen  in  the  conflict. 
The  American  commodore  made  a  gallant  and  but  too 
successful  effort  to  regain  the  day.  His  second  largest  ves- 
sel, the  Niagara,  had  suffered  little,  and  his  numerous  gun- 
boats, which  had  proved  the  greatest  annoyance  during  the 
action,  were  all  uninjured. 

Lieutenant  Garland,  first  lieutenant  of  the  Detroit,  being 
mortally  wounded  previous  to  ,the  wounds  of  captain  Bar- 
clay obliging  him  to  quit  the  deck,  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  lieute- 
nant Inglis,  to  whose  intrepidity  and  conduct  the  highest 
praise  is  given,  to  surrender  his  majesty's  ship,  when  all  fur- 
ther resistance  had  become  unavailing. 

The  enemy,  by  having  the  weather-gage,  were  enabled  to 
choose  their  distance,  and  thereby  availed  themselves  of  the 
great  advantage  they  derived  in  superiority  of  heavy  long 
guns ;  but  captain  Barclay  attributes  the  fatal  result  of  the 
day  to  the  unprecedented  fall  of  every  commander  and  se- 
cond in  command,  and  the  very  small  number  of  able  sea- 
men left  in  the  squadron,  at  a  moment  when  the  judgment  of 
the  officer,  and  skilful  exertions  of  the  sailor,  \vere  most  emi- 
nently called  /or. 

To  the  British  seamen  captain  Barclay  bestows  the  highest 
praise — that  they  behaved  like  British  seamen.  From  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  regular  forces  serving  as  marines 
captain  Barclay  experienced  every  support  within  their  pow- 
er, and  states  that  their  conduct  has  excited  his  warmest 
thanks  and  admiration. 

Deprived  of  the  palm  of  victory,  when  almost  within  his 
grasp,  by  an  overwhelming  force  which  the  enemy  possessed 
iu  reserve,  aided  by  an  accumulation  of  unfortunate  circum- 
stances, captain  Barclay  and  his  brave  crew  have,  by  their 
gallant  daring  and  self  devotion  to  their  .country's  cause,  res- 
cued its  honour  and  their  own  even  in  defeat. 

E.  BAYNES,  Adj.-Gen. 

VOL.  I.  PART  II.  [  S  S  ] 


310]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Return  of  the  Right  Division  of  the  Army  of  Upper  Canada* 

Detachment  serving  as  marines  on  hoard  the  squadron  in  the 
action  on  the  lOih  of  September,  1813, — Killed,  1  lieutenant, 
1  serjeant,  21  rank  and  file  ;  wounded,  3  Serjeants,  46  rank 
and  file ;  prisoners,  2  lieutenants,  1  assistant  surgeon,  4  ser- 
jeants,  4  drummers,  167  rank  and  file. 

Killed,  wounded,  and  missing  in  the  retreat  and  in  the  ac- 
tion of  the  5th  of  October,  1813. —  1  inspecting  field-officer, 
1  deputy  assistant  quarter-master-general,  1  fort-adjutant,  1 
hospital  mate,  1  lieutenant-colonel,  6  captains,  12  lieutenants, 
3  cornets  or  ensigns,  1  paymaster,  1  assistant  surgeon,  34  ser- 
jeants,  13  drummers,  559  rank  and  file,  46  horses. 

Assembled  at  Ancaster  on  the  17th  of  October,  1813. 

1  major-general,  1  major  of  brigade,  1  aid-de-camp,  1  staff- 
adjutant,  3  captains,  5  lieutenants,  2  cornets  or  ensigns,  1  ad- 
jutant, one  quarter-master,  2  assistant  surgeons,  15  Serjeants, 
9  drummers,  204  rank  and  file,  53  horses. 
Total  strength  of  the  Right  Division  on  the  10th  of  September. 

1  major-general,  1  inspecting  field-officer,  1  major  of  bri- 
gade, 1  deputy  quarter-master-general,  1  aid-de-camp,  1  staff- 
adjutant,  1  fort-adjutant,  1  hospital  mate,  1  lieutenant-colo- 
nel, 9  captains,  23  lieutenants,  5  cornets  or  ensigns,  1  pay- 
master, 1  adjutant,  1  quarter-master,  4  assistant  surgeons,  57 
Serjeants,  26  drummers,  944  rank  ;;nd  file,  99  horses. 

Killed,  lieutenant  Gordon,  Royal  Newfoundland  regiment. 

E  BAYNES,  AfJj.-Gt-n. 


EXPEDITION    AGAINST    THE    PEOttIA    INBIANS. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Brigadier-General  Benjamin  Howard, 

to  the'  Secretary  of  War. 

Head-Qnarterfi,  St.'Lr.ni^  October  28f/i,  1813. 
Sir,  I  had  the  honour  of  expressing-  to  you  the  opinion 
during  the  last  summer,  that  a  movement  of  troops  to  dis- 
lodge thejjlndians  at  the  head  of  Peons  Lake  was  indispensa- 
ble to  guard  against  that  pressure  upon  our  frontier  in  au- 
tumn which  I  believed  would  take  place.  It  was  with  plea- 
sure I  found  the  measure  approved.  In  pursuance  of  the 
plan,  on  the  19th  of  September,  the  effective  rangers  of  Mis- 
souri and  Illinois,  with  about  100  from  Indiana,  25O  mounted 
men  furnished  by  th,.-  executives  of  Missouri  and  Illinois,- 
were  concentrated  at  Tower  Hill,  .  ast  of  the  Mississippi,  3O 
miles  above  the  frontier.  In  embodying  these  troops,  the 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [311 

immediate  safety  of  the  frontier  was  steadily  kept  in  view,  by 
moving  detachments  in  such  directions  as  would  enable  them 
to  discover  and  dislodge  any  parties  which  might  be  upon 

P.r  borders.  The'  1st  regiment  commanded  by  colonel 
'Nair,  was  marched  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  crossed  just  below  the  rendezvous;  the  2d,  commanded 
by  colonel  Stephenson,  was  marched  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  crossing  the  Illinois,  a  few  miles  above  its  mouth  ;  a 
detachment  of  about  200  regulars,  under  the  command  of 
colonel  Nicholas,  of  the  1st  regiment  of  United  States'  in- 
fantry, at  the  same  time  ascended  the  Illinois  in  armed  boats. 
It  was  soon  ascertained,  upon  the  arrival  of  those  several 
detachments  at  points  a  little  deyond  the  settlements,  that 
the  enemy  had  descended  the  Illinois  to  invade  the  frontier. 
A  skirmish  took  place  between  some  of  colonel  Stephenson's 
command  and  a  party  of  Indians^  the  latter  were  driven. 
From  appearances  in  the  route  of  the  1st  regiment  some  par- 
ties had  crossed  in  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  upon  the 
approach  of  the  troops  I  have  no  doubt  of  the  Indians  ha- 
ving returned  to  their  canoes  in  the  Illinois,  when  they  found 
lieutenant-colom-1  Nicholas  rapidly  ascending  the  river,  and 
fled  before  him  without  injuring  a  single  citizen — believing 
that  the  frontier  would  be  safe  for  the  moment,  I  marched 
the  mounted  troops  up  the  Mississippi  bottom  to  Christy's 
creek,  passing  opposite  the  encampment  of  the  Sac  nation, 
who  have  professed  themselves  friendly,  but  many  of  whom 
I  believe  have  taken  part  in  the  war  against  us,  while  others 
were  undecided.  At  this  time,  Mr.  Boilvairi,  Indian  agent, 
was  in  the  neighbourhood,  sent  by  governor  Clarke  to  con- 
duct them  to  the  Missouri,  where  they  had  agreed  to  winter. 
However  unsettled  their  neutrality  might  have  fat-en  before, 
the  display  of  troops  in  their  vicinity  soon  confirmed  it;  they 
immediately  descended  the  Mississippi  to  the  Portage  de 
Sioux,  from  whence  they  were  sent  up  the  Missouri  from 
Christy's  creek.  The  army  was  marched  across  the  country 
towards  Peoria,  anclon  the  evening  of  the  28th  arrived  within 
a  few  miles  of  the  old  village.  That  night  three  men  were 
sent  to  discover  whether  the  command  of  lieutenant-colonel 
Nicholson  had  arrived,  and  bearing  a  letter  to  that  officer, 
stating  my  position,  and  calling  for  such  information  in  re- 
gard to  the  enemy  as  he  might  possess.  During  the  night  he 
descended  the  Illinois  to  my  encampment,  and  reported  to 
me,  that  the  day  before,  an  attack  was  made  upon  his  com- 
mand at  Peoria,  where  he  had  commenced  building  a  fort 
agreeably  to  my  orders ;  however  the  enemy  were  soon  ciis- 


312]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

parsed  by  a  well-directed  discharge  of  musketry,  with  the 
aid  of  a  six-pounder  fron  two  unfinished  block-houses.  It 
was  evident  that  the  assailants  suffered  in  this  attack  ;  but  to 
what  extent  could  not  be  ascertained.  None  of  our  men 
were  killed,  and  only  one  wounded.  On  the  29th  the  mounted 
troops  arrived  at  Peoria ;  and  so  soon  as  provisions  could  be 
drawn,  were  marched  up  the  Illinois  to  the  villages  at  the 
head  of  the  lake,  which  was  the  direction  in  which  the  ene- 
my appeared  to  have  retired  from  Peoria. — Upon  my  arrival 
at  those  villages,  I  found  them  deserted.  From  the  exami- 
nation made  by  reconnoitring  partie-s,  I  had  no  doubt  of  the 
Indians  having  ascended  the  Illinois  in  canoes,  which  is  so 
situated,  from  swamps  on  both  banks,  that  it  was  impossible 
to  pursue  them  by  land.  The  villages  were  destroyed,  and 
some  property  of  inconsiderable  amount  taken.  The  army 
then  returned  to  Peoria,  ;>nd  remained  until  the  garrison  was 
put  in  a  state  of  defence.  Shortly  after  my  return,  I  sent  a 
detachment  in  two  armed  boats,  under  the  command  of  ma- 
jor Christy,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  This  detachment  as- 
cended the  Illinois  above  the  mouth  of  the  Vermillion  to  the 
Rapids,  and  within  75  miles  of  Chicago  ;  but  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  come  up  with  the  Indians,  notwithstanding  the  great 
efforts  of  the  commanding  officer  and  his  command.  Soon 
after  the  departure  of  major  Christy,  major  Boone  was  sent 
with  about  100  men  in  the  direction  of  Rock  river,  to  exam- 
ine whether  there  were  any  parties  in  that  quarter. 

He  penetrated  the  country  northwardly  from  Peoria,  in  my 
opinion,  within  45  miles  of  Rock  river,  and  reported  that 
there  were  several  encampments  on  the  Maquoine  which  ap- 
peared to  have  been  deserted  about  the  time  the  army  ar- 
rived at  Peoria.  The  mounted  troops  remained  near  Peo- 
ria from  the  2d  until 'the  15th  of  October,  during  which 
time  they  were  actively  engaged,  together  with  the  United 
States'  infantry,  in  erecting  Fort  Clarke,  which  stands  at  the 
lower  end  of  the  lake,  completely  commanding  the  river. 
This  important  fort  was  erected  uncler  many  disadvantages — 
the  weather  being  unusually  cold  for  the  season,  and  without 
the  aid  of  a  single  team  the  timbers  were  hauled  by  the 
troops  a  considerable  distance  to  the  lake  (nearly  a  mile  in 
width),  and  rafted  over — This  fort  is  unquestionably  one  of 
the  strongest  I  have  ever  seen  in  the  western  country,  am 
certainly  highly  important  to  the  safety  of  the  three  territo 
lies  with  the  defence  of  which  I  have  been  entrusted. 

On  the   15th  the  mounted  troops  moved  from  Peoria  for 
the  settlements,  pursuing  generally  a  south  course  until  they 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [313 

arrived  at  Camp  Russell  on  the  21st  instant,  when  the  mount- 
ed militia  were  discharged.  The  Indiana  rangers  on  the  march 
were  sent  across  from  the  old  Kickapoos  towns  to  Vincennes 
under  the  command  of  captain  Andre.  The  safety  to  the 
frontier  which  was  anticipated  from  this  movement  has  been 
fully  realized,  and  the  same  enemy  that  has  kept  our  exposed 
settlements  under  continual  apprehensions  of  danger  was 
compelled  to  fly  before  a  force  in  their  own  country  less  than 
that  assigned  by  the  government  for  the  immediate  defence 
of  the  frontier. — It  is  with  pleasure  I  acknowledge  the  ener- 
getic and  intelligent  execution  of  my  orders  by  those  officers 
to  whom  I  confided  the  command  of  detachments,  and  lau- 
dable conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  generally  during  the 
campaign,  but  more  particularly  on  those  occasions  (not  un- 
frequent),  when  it  was  hoped  and  believed  by  all  that  the 
enemy  had  determined  to  give  us  battle. 

I  am,  sir,  with  high  consideration,  your  humble  servant, 

BENJ.  HOWARD. 
The  Hon.  John  Armstrong. 

P.  S.  I  have  delayed  the  transmission  of  this  communi- 
cation, until  I  heard  of  captain  Andre,  who  was  sent  across 
direct  from  the  Kickapoos  towns  to  Vincennes — he  has  re- 
ported to  me  his  safe  arrival.  B.  H. 


BRITISH  ACCOUNT  OF  A  SKIRMISH  WITH  THE  ADVANCED 
GUARD  OF  THE  ARMY  UNDER  GENERAL  HAMPTON. 


Head-quarters^  A  Fourche,  on  Chateauguay 

October  27th,  1813. 
General  Orders. 

His  excellency  the  governor  in  chief  and  commander  of  the 
forces  has  received  from  major-general  De  Watteville,  the 
report  of  the  affair  which  took  place  at  the  advanced  position 
of  his  post  at  1  1  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning,  between  the 
American  army  under  the  command  of  major-general  Hamp- 
ton, and  the  advanced  pickets  of  the  British,  thrown  out  for 
the  purpose  of  covering  working  parties,  under  the  direction 
of  lieutenant-colonel  De  Salisberry.  The  judicious  position 
chosen  by  that  officer,  and  the  excellent  disposition  of  his  lit- 
tle band,  composed  of  the  light  company  of  Canadian  fenci- 
bles,  and  two  companies  of  Canadian  voltigeurs,  repulsed 
with  loss  the  advance  of  the  enemy's  principal  column,  com- 
manded by  general  Hampton  in  person,  and  the  American 


314]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

_ 

light  brigade,  under  colonel  M'Carty,  was  in  a  like  manner 
checked  in  its  progress  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  by  the 
gallant  and  spirited  advance  of  the  flank  company  second  bat- 
talion embodied  militia,  under  captain  Daly,  supported  by 
captain  Bruyer's  company  of  sedentary  militia.  Captains 
Daly  and  Bruyers  being  both  wounded,  and  their  having  sus- 
tained some  loss,  their  position  was  immediately  taken  up  by 
a  flank  company  of  the  first  battalion  embodied  militia.  The 
enemy  rallied  and  repeatedly  returned  to  the  attack,  which 
terminated  only  with  the  day,  in  his  complete  disgrace  and 
defeat,  being  foiled  by  a  handful  of  men,  not  amounting  to  a 
twentieth  part  of  the  force  opposed  to  them,  but  which,  ne- 
vertheless, by  their  determined  bravery  maintained  their  po- 
sition, and  effectually  protected  the  working  parties,  who  con- 
tinued their  labours  unmolested.  Lieutenant-colonel  De  Sa- 
lisberry  reports  having  experienced  the  most  able  support 
from  captain  Ferguson  in  command  of  the  light  company  Ca- 
nadian fencibles,  and  also  from  captain  can  Baptiste  Du- 
chesnay,  r.nd  captain  Juchereau  Duchesnay  of  the  two  com- 
panies of  volti gears ;  from  captain  Lamotte,  and  adjutants 
Hebden  and  O'Sullivan,  and  from  every  -officer  and  soldier 
engaged,  whose  gallantry  and  steadiness  were  conspicuous 
and  praiseworthy  in  the  highest  degree. 

His  excellency  the  governor  in  chief  and  commander  of 
the  forces  having  had  the  satisfaction  of  himself  witnessing 
the  conduct  of  the  troops  on  this  brilliant  occasion,  feels  it  a 
gratifying  duty  to  render  them  that  praise  which  is  so  justly 
their  due;  to  major-general  De  Watte viile,  for  the  admirable 
arrangement  established  by  him,  for  the  defence  of  his  post ;  to 
lieutenant-colonel  De  Salisberry,  for  his  judicious  and  officer- 
like  conduct  displayed  in  the  choice  of  position  and  arrange- 
ment of  his  force  ;  to  the  officers  and  men  engaged  with  the 
enemy,  the  warmest  acknowledgements  of  his  excellency  are 
due  for  their  gallantry  and  steadiness,  and  to  all  the  troops  at 
the  station  the  highest  praise  belongs,  for  their  zeal,  steadi- 
ness, and  discipline,  and  for  the  patient  endurance  of  hard- 
ship and  privation  which  they  have  evinced.  A  determined 
perseverance  in  this  honourable  conduct  cannot  fail  crowning 
the  brave  and  loyal  Canadians  with  victory,  and  hurling  dis- 
grace and  confusion  on  the  head  of  the  enemy  that  would 
pollute  their  happy  soil. 

By  the  report  of  prisoners,  the  enemy's  force  is  stated  at 
7,500  infantry,  400  cavalry,  and  10  field-pieces.  The  British 
advanced  force  actually  engaged  did  not  exceed  300.  The 
cnemv  suffered  severely  from  our  fire,  as  well  as  from  their 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [315 

own ;  some  detached  corps  having  fired  upon  each  other  by 
mistake  in  the  woods. 

List  of  the  killed,  ivounded,  and  missing. 
Killed,  5;   wounded,  16;  missing,  4. 

(Signed)  EDWARD  BAYNES,  Adj. -Gen. 


OPERATIONS    OF    THE    ARMY    UNDER    GENERAL    WILKINSON. 

From  General  Wilkinson  to  the.  Secretary  of  War,  Head-Quar- 
ters, French  Mills,  adjoining  the  Province  of  Lower  Canada, 
November  16,  1813. 

Sir,  I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  the  journal  which  accom- 
panies this  letter,  for  the  particulars  of  the  movement  of  the 
corps  under  my  command,  down  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  will 
endeavour  to  exert  my  enfeebled  mind  to  detail  to  you  the 
more  striking  and  important  incidents  which  have  ensued 
since  mv  departure  from  Grenadier  island,  at  the  foot  of 
Lake  Ontario,  on  the  3d  instant. 

The  corps  of  the  enemy  from  Kingston,  which  followed 
me,  hung  on  my  rear,  and  in  concert  with  a  heavy  galley  and 
a  few  gun-boats,  seemed  determined  to  retard  my  progress. 
I  was  strongly  tempted  to  halt,  turn  about,  and  put  an  end  to 
his  teazing;  but  alas  !  I  was  confined  to  my  bed ;  major-ge- 
neral Lewis  was  too  ill  for  anv  active  exertion  ;  and  above  all, 
I  did  not  dare  to  suffer  myself  to  be  diverted  a  single  day 
from  the  prosecution  of  the  views  of  government.  I  had 
written  major-general  Hampton'  on  the  6th  instant,  by  his 
adjutant-general,  colonel  King,  and  had  ordered  him  to  form 
a  junction  with  me  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  which  I  expected 
would  take  place  on  the  9th  or  10th.  It  would  havexbeen 
unpardonable  had  I  lost  sight  of  this  object  a  moment,  as  I 
deemed  it  of  vital  importance  to  the  issue  of  the  campaign. 
The  enemy  deserve  credit  for  their  zeal  and  intelligence, 
which  the  active  universal  hostility  of  the  male  inhabitants  of 
the  country  enabled  them  to  employ  to  the  greatest  advan- 
tage. Thus,  while  menaced  by  a  respectable  force  in  rear, 
the  coast  was  lined  by  musketry  in  front,  at  every  critical 
pass  of  the  river,  which  obliged  me  to  march  a  detachment, 
and  this  impeded  my  progress. 

On  the  evening  of  the  9th  instant  the  army  halted  a  few 
miles  from  the  head  of  the  Long  Bar.  In  the  morning  of 
the  10th  the  enclosed  order  was  issued.  General  Brown 
marched  agreeably  to  order,  and  about  noon  we  were  appri- 


.,16]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

sed,  by  the  report  of  bis  artillery,  tbnt  be  was  engaged  some 
distance  below  us.  At  tbe  same  time  tbe  enemy  were  ob- 
served in  our  rear,  and  their  galley  and  gun-boats  approached 
our  flotilla,  and  opened  a  fire  upon  us,  which  obliged  me  to  or- 
der a  battery  of  18-pounders  to  he  planted,  and  a  shot  from 
it  compelled  the  vessels  of  the  enemy  to  retire,  together  with 
their  troops,  after  some  firing  between  the  advanced  parties. 
But  by  this  time,  in  consequence  of  disembarking  and  re-em- 
barking the  heavy  guns,  the  day  was  so  far  spent  that  our  pi- 
lots did  not  dare  to  enter  the  Saut  (eight  miles  a  continued  ra- 
pid) and  therefore  we  fell  down  about  two  miles  and  came  to 
for  the  night.  Early  tht  next  morning  every  thing  was  rea- 
dy for  motion ;  but  having  received  no  intelligence  from  ge- 
neral Brown,  I  was  still  delayed,  as  sound  caution  prescribed 
I  should  learn  the  result  of  his  affair  before  I  committed  the 
flotilla  to  the  Saut.  At  10  o'clock,  A.  M.,  an  officer  of  dra- 
goons arrived  with  a  letter,  in  which  the  general  informed 
me  he  had  forced  the  enemy,  and  would  reach  the  foot  of  the 
Saut  early  in  the  day.  Orders  were  immediately  given  for 
the  flotilla  to  snil,  at  which  instant  the  enemy's  gun-boats  ap- 
peared, and  began  to  throw  shot  among  us.  Information 
was  brought  me  at  the  same  time  from  brigadier-general 
Boyd,  that  the  enemy's  troops  were  advancing  in  column. 

I  immediately  sent  orders  to  him  to  attack  them  ;  this  re- 
port was  soon  contradicted.  Their  gun-boats,  however,  con- 
tinued to  scratch  us,  and  a  variety  of  reports  of  their  move- 
ments and  counter-movements  were  brought  to  me  in  suc- 
cession, which  convinced  me  of  their  determination  to  ha- 
zard an  attack,  when  it  could  be  done  to  the  greatest  advan- 
tage, and  therefore  I  resolved  to  anticipate  them.  Directions 
were  accordingly  sent,  by  that  distinguished  officer,  colonel 
Swift  of  the  engineers,  to  brigadier-general  Boyd,  to  throw 
the  detachments  of  his  command,  assigned  to  him  in  the  or- 
der of  the  preceding  day,  and  composed  of  men  of  his  own, 
Covington's,  and  Swartwout's  brigades,  into  three  columns, 
to  march  upon  the  enemy,  outflank  them,  if  possible,  and  take 
their  artillery.  The  action  soon  commenced  with  the  ad- 
vanced body  of  the  enemy,  and  became  extremely  sharp  and 
galling,  and  with  great  vivacity,  in  open  space  and  fair  combat, 
for  upwards  of  two  and  a  half  hours,  the  adverse  lines  alter- 
nately yielding  and  advancing.  It  is  impossible  to  say  with  ac- 
curacy what  was  our  number  on  the  field,  because  it  consisted 
of  indefinite  detachments  taken  from  the  boats  to  render  safe 
the  passage  of  the  Saut.  Generals  Covington  and  Swartwout 
voluntarily  took  part  in  the  action,  at  the  head  of  detachments 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [317 

from  their  respective  brigades,  and  exhibited  the  same  cou- 
rage that  was  displayed  by  brigadier-general  Boyd,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  the  senior  officer  on  the  ground.  Our  force 
engaged  might  have  reached  1600  or  1700  men.  That  of 
the  enemy  was  estimated  from  1200  to  2000, — consisting,  as 
I  am  informed,  of  detachments  from  the  49th,  84th,  and 
101st  regiments  of  the  line,  with  three  companies  of  the  Vol- 
tigeur  and  Glengary  corps,  and  the  militia  of  the  country, 
who  are  not  included  in  the  estimate. 

It  would  be  presumptuous  in  me  to  attempt  to  give  you  a 
detailed  account  of  this  affair,  which  certainly  reflects  high 
honour  on  the  valour  of  the  American  soldier,  as  no  exam- 
ples can  be  produced  of  undisciplined  men,  with  inexperien- 
ced officers,  braving  a  fire  of  two  hours  and  a  half,  without 
quitting  the  field  or  yielding  to  their  antagonists.  But,  sir, 
the  information  I  now  give  you,  is  derived  from  officers  of 
my  confidence,  who  took  active  parts  in  this  conflict;  for 
though  I  was  enabled  to  order  the  attack,  it  was  my  hard 
fortune  not  to  be  able  to  lead  the  troops  I  commanded.  The 
disease  with  which  I  was  assailed  on  the  2d  of  September,  on 
my  journey  to  Fort  George,  having,  with  a  few  short  inter- 
vals of  convalescence,  preyed  on  me  ever  since,  and  at  the 
moment  of  this  action  I  was  confined  to  my  bed,  and 
emaciated  almost  to  a  skeleton,  unable  to  sit  on  my  horse  or 
to  move  ten  paces  without  assistance. 

I  must,  however,  be  pardoned  for  trespassing  on  your  time 
a  few  remarks  in  relation  to  the  affair.  The  objects  of  the 
British  and  American  commanders  were  precisely  opposed — 
the  last  being  bound  by  the  instructions  of  his  government, 
and  the  most  solemn  obligations  of  duty,  to  precipitate  his 
descent  of  the  St.  Lawrence  by  every  practicable  means ;  be- 
cause this  being  effected,  one  oi'  the  greatest  difficulties  op- 
posed to  the  American  arms  would  be  surmounted ;  and  the 
first,  by  duties  equally  imperious,  to  retard  and  if  possible 
prevent  such  descent.  Ke  is  to  be  accounted  victorious  who 
effected  his  purpose.  The  British  commander,  having  failed 
to  gain  either  of  his  objects,  can  lay  no  claim  to  the  honours 
of  the  day.  The  battle  fluctuated,  and  triumph  seemed  at 
different  times  inclined  to  the  contending  corps.  The  front 
of  the  enemy  were  at  first  forced  back  more  than  a  mile,  and, 
though  they  never  regained  the  ground  they  lost,  their  stand 
was  permanent,  and  their  charges  resolute.  Amidst  these 
charges  and  near  the  close  of  the  contest  we  lost  a  field-piece, 
by  the  fall  of  the  officer  who  was  serving  it  with  the  same 

VOL.  I.    PART  II.  [T  t] 


318]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

coolness  as  if  he  had  been  at  a  parade  or  review.  This  was 
lieutenant  Smith  of  the  light  artillery,  who,  in  point  of  merit, 
stood  at  the  head  of  his  grade.  The  enemy  having  halted, 
and  our  troops  being  again  formed  in  battalion  front  to  front, 
and  the  firing  having  ceased  on  both  sides,  we  resumed  our 
position  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  the  infantry  being  much 
fatigued,  the  whole  were  re-embarked  and  proceeded  down 
the  river  without  further  annoyance  from  the  enemy  or  their 
gun-boats,  while  the  dragoons  with  five  pieces  of  light  artil- 
lery marched  down  the  Canada  shore  without  molestation. 

It  is  due  to  his  rank,  to  his  worth,  and  his  services  that  I 
should  make  particular  mention  of  brigadier-general  Coving- 
ton,  who  received  a  mortal  wound  directly  through  the  body, 
while  animating  his  men  and  leading  them  to  the  charge. 
He  fell,  where  he  fought,  at  the  head  of  his  men,  and  survived 
but  two  days. 

The  next  morning  the  flotilla  passed  through  the  Saut,  and 
joined  that  excellent  officer  brigadier-general  Brown,  at  Barn- 
hart's  near  Cornwall,  where  he  had  been  instructed  to  take  post 
and  wait  my  arrival,  and  where  I  confidently  expected  to 
hear  of  major-general  Hampton's  arrival  on  the  opposite 
shore.  But  immediately  after  I  halted,  colonel  Atkinson, 
the  inspector  general  of  the  division  under  major-general 
Hampton,  waited  on  me  with  a  letter  from  that  officer,  in 
whii  h,  to  my  unspeakable  mortification  and  surprise,  he  de- 
clined the  junction  ordered,  and  informed  me  he  was  march- 
ing towards  Lake  Cham  plain  by  way  of  co-operating  in  the 
proposed  attack  on  Montreal.  This  letter,  together  with  a 
copy  of  that  to  which  it  is  an  answer,  were  immediately  sub- 
mitted to  a  council  of  war,  composed  of  my  general  officers 
and  the  colonel  commanding  the  elite,  the  chief  engineer, 
and  the  adjutant-general,  who  unanimously  gave  it  as  their 
opinion,  that  "the  attack  on  Montreal  should  be  abandoned 
for  the  present  season,  and  the  army  near  Cornwall  should  be 
immediately  crossed  to  the  American  shore  for  taking  up 
winter  quarters,  and  that  this  place  afforded  an  eligible  posi- 
tion for  such  quarters." 

I  acquiesced  in  these  opinions,  not  from  the  shortness  of 
the  stock  of  provisions  (which  had  been  reduced  by  the  acts 
of  Go'cl),  because  that  of  our  meat  had  been  increased  five 
days  and  our  bread  had  been  reduced  only  two  days,  and  be- 
cause wt.  could,  in  case  of  of  extremity,  have  liv;,d  on  the 
enemy  ;  but  because  the  loss  of  the  division  under  major-ge- 
neral Hampton,  weakened  my  force  too  sensibly  to  justify 
the  attempt.  In  all  my  measures  and  movements  of  moment, 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  3,19 

I  have  taken  the  opinions  of  my  general  officers,  which  have 
been  in  accord  with  mv  own. 

I  remained  on  the  Canada  shore  until  the  next  dav,  with- 
out seeing  or  hearing  from  the  "  powerful  force"  of  the  ene- 
my in  our  neighbourhood,  and  the  same  day  reached  this  po- 
sition with  the  artillery  and  infantry.  The  dragoons  have 
been  ordered  to  Utica  and  its  vicinity,  and  I  expect  are  50 
or  60  miles  on  the  march. 

You  have  under  cover  a  summary  abstract  of  the  killed 
and  wounded  in  the  affair  of  the  llth  instant,  which  shall 
soon  be  followed  by  a  particular  return,  in  which  a  just  re- 
gard will  be  paid  to  individual  merits.  The  dead  rest  in 
honour,  and  the  wounded  bled  for  their  country  and  deserve 
its  gratitude. 

With  perfect  respect,  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your 
obedient  humble  servant, 

(Signed)  JAMES  WILKINSON. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  of  the  15th  November,  from  General 
Wilkinson* 

It  is  a  fact,  for  which  I  am  authorised  to  pledge  myself  on 
the  most  confidential  authority,  that  on  the  4th  of  the  present 
month,  the  British  garrison  of  Montreal  consisted  solely  of 
4OO  marines  and  200  sailors,  which  had  been  sent  up  from 
Quebec.  We  have,  with  the  provision  here  and  that  left  at 
Chateaugay,  about  40  days'  subsistence,  to  which  I  shall  add 
30  more. 
Hon.  General  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  War. 

Return  of  the  American  loss  in   Killed  and  Wounded  in  the 

Battle  of  IVilliamsburgh. 
Killed,  102  ;  wounded,  237. 

From  General  Wilkinson  to  General  Hampton. 

Head-quarters  of  the  Army,  seven  miles  above  Ogdensburg, 
November  6//2,  1813,  in  the  evening, 

Sir,  I  address  you  at  the  special  instance  of  the  secretary 
of  war,  who  by  bad  roads,  worse  weather,  and  511  health  was  . 
diverted  from  meeting  me  near  this  place,  and  determined  to 
tread  back  his  steps  to  Washington  from  Antwerp  on  the 
29th  ult. 

I  am  destined  to  and  determined  on  the  attack  of  Montre- 
al, if  not  prevented  by  some  act  of  God  ;  alid  to  give  security 
to  the  enterprise,  the  division  under  your  command  must 
co-operate  with  the  corps  under  my  immediate  orders.  The 
point  of  rendezvous  is  the  circumstance  of  greatest  interest  to 


320]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

the  issue  of  this  operation,  and  the  distance  which  separates  us, 
and  my  ignorance  of  the  practicability  of  the  direct  or  devious 
roads  or  routes  by  which  you  must  march,  makes  it  necessa- 
ry that  your  own  judgment  should  determine  the  point.  To 
assist  you  in  making  the  soundest  determination,  and  to  take 
the  most  prompt  and  effectual  measures,  I  can  only  inform 
you  of  my  intentions  and  situation  in  some  respects  of  first 
importance.  I  shall  pass  Prescott  to  night,  because  the  stage 
of  the  season  will  not  allow  me  three  days  to  take  it,  shall 
cross  the  cavalry  at  Hamilton,  which  will  not  require  a  day. 
I  shall  thence  press  forward  and  break  down  every  obstruc- 
tion on  this  river  to  Grand  river,  there  to  cross  the  Isle 
Perrot,  and  with  my  scows  to  bridge  the  narrow  inner  chan- 
nel, and  thus  obtain  foot-hold  on  Montreal  Island  at  about 
20  miles  from  the  city;  after  which  our  artillery,  bayonets, 
and  swords  must  secure  our  triumph,  or  provide  us  honoura- 
ble graves. 

Enclosed  yon  have  a  memorandum  of  field  and  battering 
train,  pretty  well  found  in  fixed  ammunition,  which  may  ena- 
ble you  to  dismiss  your  own;  but  we  are  deficient  in  loose 
powder  and  musket  cartridges,  and  therefore  hope  you  may 
be  abundantly  found. 

On  the  subject  of  provisions  I  wish  I  could  give  a  favour- 
able information  ;  our  whole  stork  of  bread  may  be  compu- 
ted at  about  15  days,  and  our  meat  at  20.  In  speaking  on 
this  subject  to  the  secretary  of  war,  he  informed  me  ample 
magazines  were  laid  up  on  Lake  Champlain,  and  therefore  I 
must  request  of  you  to  order  forward  two  or  three  months 
supply  by  the  safest  route,  in  a  direction  to  the  proposed 
scene  of  action.  I  have  submitted  the  state  of  our  provi- 
sions to  my  general  officers,  who  unanimously  agree  that  it 
should  not  prevent  the  progress  of  the  expedition;  and  they 
also  agree  in  opinion,  that  if  you  are  not  in  force  to  face  the 
enemy,  you  should  meet  us  at  St.  Regis  or  its  vicinity. 

I  shall  expect  to  hear  from  if  not  see  you  at  that  place  on 
the  9th. 

And  have  the  honour  to  be,  respectfully,  your  obedient 
humble  servant, 

(Signed)  JA.  WILKINSON. 

Major-General  Hampton. 

From  General  Hampton  to  General  Wilkinson. 

Head- Barter  s^  Four  Corners,  November  8,  1813. 
Sir,  I  had  the  honour  to  receive,  at  a  late  hour  last  even- 
ing, by  colonel  King,  your  communication  of  the  6th,  and 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [321 

was  deeply  impressed  with  the  sense  of  responsibility  it  \m- 
posed  of  deciding  upon  the  means  of  our  co-operation.  The 
idea  suggested  as  the  opinion  of  your  officers,  of  effecting 
the  junction  at  St.  R'/gis,  was  most  pleasing,  as  being  most 
immediate,  until  I  came  to  the  disclosure  of  the  amount  of 
your  supplies  of  provisions.  Colonel  Atkinson  will  explain 
the  reasons  that  would  have  rendered  it  impossible  for  me  to 
have  brought  more  than  each  man  could  have  carried  on  his 
back  ;  and  when  1  reflected  that  in  throwing  nr,  self  upon  your 
scanty  means,  I  should  be  weakening  you  in  your  most  vul- 
nerable point,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  adopt  the  opinion,  after 
consulting  the  general  and  principal  officers,  that  by  throw- 
ing myself  back  on  my  main  depot,  when  all  the  means  of 
transportation  had  gone,  and  falling  upon  the  enemy's  flank, 
and  straining  every  effort  to  open  a  communication  from 
Plattsburgh  to  Coghnawaga,  or  any  other  point  you  may  in- 
dicate on  the  St.  Lawrence,  I  should  more  effectually  contri- 
bute to  your  success,  than  by  the  junction  at  St.  Regis.  The 
way  is  in  many  places  blockaded  and  abatted,  and  the  road 
impracticable  for  wheel  carriages  during  winter — but  by  the 
employment  of  pack  horses,  if  I  am  not  overpowered,  I  hope 
to  be  able  to  prevent  your  starving.  I  have  ascertained  and 
witnessed  that  the  plan  of  the  enemy  is  to  burn  and  consume 
every  thing  in  our  advance.  My  troops  and  other  means 
will  be  described  to  you  by  colonel  Atkinson.  Besides  the 
rawness  and  sickliness,  they  have  endured  fatigues  equal  to  a 
winter  campaign,  in  the  late  snows  and  bad  weather,  and  are 
sadly  dispirited  and  fallen  off;  but  upon  the  subject  I  must 
refer  you  to  colonel  Atkinson. 

With  these  means,  what  can  be  accomplished  by  human 
exertions  I  will  attempt,  with  a  mind  devoted  to  the  general 
objects  of  the  campaign. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  W.  HAMPTON. 

His  Excellency  Major-General  James  Wilkinson. 

General  Wilkinson  to  General  Armstrong. 
Head-quarters^  French  Mills,  November  13,  1813. 
Sir,  I  beg  this  may  be  considered  as  an  appendage  to  my 
official  communication  respecting  the  action  of  the   llth  in- 
stant.    I  last  evening  received  the  enclosed  information,  the 
result  of  the  examination  of  sundry  prisoners,  taken  on  the 
field  of  battle,  which  justifies  the  opinion  of  the  surviving  ge- 
neral officers  who  were  in  the  engagement.     This  goes  to 
prove,  that  although  the  imperious  obligations  of  duty  did  not 


322]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

allow  me  sufficient  time  to  route  theenemv,  they  were  beateu, 
the  accidental  loss  of  one  field-piece  notwithstanding,  after  it 
had  been  discharged  fifteen  or  twenty  times.  I  have  also 
learned,  from  what  is  considered  good  authority,  but  I  will 
not  vouch  for  the  correctness  of  it,  that  the  enemy's  loss 
exceeded  five  hundred  killed  and  wounded.  The  enclosed 
report  will  correct  an  error  in  my  former  communication — 
as  it  appears  it  was  the  89th  and  not  the  84th  British  regi- 
ment which  was  engaged  on  the  llth.  I  beg  leave  to  men- 
tion, relative  to  the  action  of  the  llth,  what,  from  my  ex- 
treme indisposition,  I  have  omitted.  Having  received  in- 
formation late  in  the  day,  that  the  contest  had  become  some- 
what dubious,  I  ordered  up  a  reserve  of  six  hundred  men, 
whom  I  had  directed  to  stand  by  their  arms  under  lieutenant- 
colonel  Upham,  who  gallantly  led  them  into  the  action,  which 
terminated  a  few  minutes  after  their  arrival  on  the  ground. 

With  much  consideration  and  respect,  I  have  the  honour 
to  be,  sir,  your  obedient  humble  servant, 

JA.  WILKINSON. 
The  Hon.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  at  War. 

Statement  of  the  Strength  of  the  Enemy  in  the  Action  of  the  1 1  th 
November,  1813,  on  Keller's  Field,  in  Wiliiamsbiirgh,  in  Up- 
per Canada,  founded  on  the  separate  examination  of  a  num- 
ber of  Bntish  Prisoners  taken  on  the  Field  of  Buttle. 
Of  the  8th  regiment,  760;  49th  do.,  450;  Voltigeurs,  270; 
Glengary's,  80,  one  company  ;  of  the  lOOtl.-,  40,  a  detachment 
from   Prescott;    Canadian  fencibles,  220;    Indians,  40 ;  In- 
corporated militia,  300 — 2170;  four  pieces  of  mounted  artil- 
lery ;  and  seven  gun-boats,  one  mounting  a  24-pounder. 

I  certify  that  the  above  statement  is  correct,  agreeably  to 
the  statement  of  the  above-mentioned  prisoners. 

(Signed)  I.  JOHNSON, 

Inspector-General  2d  Division. 
Head-quarters,  French  Mills,  November  16,  1813. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Brigadier-General  John  P.  Boyd,  who 
commanded  in  the  Battle  of  IVilliamsburgh,  to  Major-General 
James  Wilkinson,  Commander  in  chief. 

Camp  near  Cornwall,  November  12,  1813. 
Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  report  to  you,  that  yesterday, 
while  the  rear  division  of  the  army,  consisting  of  detachments 
from  the  first,  third,  and  fourth  brigades,  and  placed  under 
my  command  to  protect  the  flotilla  from  the  enemy  that  hung 
on  our  rear,  was  under  arms  in  order  to  move,  agreeably,  to 
your  orders,  down  the  bank  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  a  report  was 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [323 

brought  to  me  from  the  rear  guard,  that  a  body  of  about  200 
British  and  Indians  had  advanced  into  the  woods  that  skirted 
our  rear.  General  Swartwout,  with  the  fourth  brigade,  was 
immediately  ordered  to  dislodge  them  ;  general  Covington, 
with  the  third  brigade,  at  the  same  time  directed  to  be  within 
supporting  distance.  General  Swartwout  dashed  into  the 
woods,  and  with  the  21st  infantry  (a  part  of  his  brigade),  after 
a  short  skirmieh,  drove  them  back  to  the  position  of  their 
main  body.  Here  he  was  joined  by  general  Covington.  The 
enemy  had  judiciously  chosen  his  ground  among  the  deep 
ravines  which  every  where  intersected  the  extensive  plain, 
and  discharged  a  heavy  and  galling  fire  upon  our  advanced 
columns.  No  opposition  or  obstacle,  however,  checked  their 
ardour.  The  enemy  retired  for  more  than  a  mile  before  their 
resolute  and  repeated  charges.  During  this  time  the  detach- 
ment of  the  first  brigade  under  colonel  Coles,  whose  greater 
distance  from  the  scene  of  action  retarded  its  arrival,  rapidly 
entered  the  field.  Being  directed  to  attack  the  enemy's  left 
flank,  this  movement  was  promptly  and  bravely  executed, 
amid  a  shower  of  musketry  and  shrapnell  shells.  The  fight 
now  became  more  stationary,  until  the  brigade  first  engaged, 
having  expended  all  their  ammunition,  were  directed  to  retire 
to  a  more  defensible  position  to  wait  for  a  re-supply.  This 
movement  so  disconnected  the  line  as  to  i-ender  it  expedient 
for  the  first  brigade  likewise  to  retire.  It  should  be  remark- 
ed that  the  artillery,  except  two  pieces  under  captain  Irvine 
,  attached  to  the  rear  division,  which,  from  the  nature  of  the 
ground  and  the  circuitous  route  they  had  to  take,  were  like- 
wise much  retarded  in  their  arrival,  did  not  reach  the  ground 
until  the  line,  for  want  of  ammunition,  had  already  begun  to 
fall  back.  When  they  were  arranged,  in  doing  which  I  was 
assisted  by  the  skill  of  colonel  Swift  of  the  engineers,  their 
fire  was  sure  and  destructive.  When  the  artillery  was  finally 
directed  to  retire,  having  to  cross  a  deep,  and  excepting  in. 
one  place  (to  artillery)  impassable  ravine,  one  piece  was  un- 
fortunately lost.  The  fall  of  its  gallant  commander,  lieutenant 
Smith,  and  most  of  his  men,  may  account  for  this  accident. 
In  the  death  of  this  young  man,  the  army  has  lost  one  of  its 
most  promising  officers. 

The  squadron  of  the  2d  regiment  of  dragoons,  under  ma- 
jor Woodford,  was  early  on  the  field,  and  much  exposed  to 
the  enemy's  fire,  but  the  nature  of  the  ground,  and  the  posi- 
tion of  his  line,  did  not  admit  of  those  successful  charges, 
which  their  discipline  and  ardour,  under  more  favourable 
circumstances,  are  calculated  to  make.  The  reserve,  under 


HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

colonel  Upham  and  major  Malcolm,  did  not  arrive  from  the 
boats  in  time  to  participate  in  but  a  small  part  of  the  action — 
but  the  activity  and  zeal  they  displayed  while  engaged,  evin- 
ced the  benefit  that  might  have  been  derived  from  their  ear- 
lier assistance. 

The  whole  line  was  now  re-formed  on  the  borders  of  those 
woods  from  which  the  enemy  had  first  been  driven — when, 
night  coming  on  and  the  storm  returning,  and  conceiving 
that  the  object  you  had  in  view,  which  was  to  beat  back  the 
enemy  that  would  retard  our  junction  with  the  main  body 
below,  to  have  been  accomplished,  the  troops  were  directed 
to  return  to  the  ground  near  the  flotilla ;  which  movement 
was  executed  in  good  order,  and  without  any  molestation 
from  the  enemy. 

I  cannot  close  my  representation  of  this  battle,  without  in- 
dulging in  a  few  remarks  upon  those  officers,  whose  conduct 
will  give  a  character  to  the  conflict  of  this  day.  General 
Covington,  whose  readiness  to  enter  the  field  was  an  earnest 
of  his  subsequent  activity,  received  a  mortal  wound,  while 
leading  his  men  on  to  a  successful  charge.  His  troops,  still 
seeing  the  effect  of  his  gallant  example,  continued  to  advance 
long  after  their  brave  commander  had  fallen.  His  fate  will 
perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  plain  which  has  been  crim- 
soned by  his  blood.  Colonel  Preston  was  severely  wounded, 
while  nobly  fighting  at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  The  uni- 
versal sympathy  which  is  excited  by  the  honourable  misfor- 
tune of  this  amiable  officer,  attests  the  estimation  which  is 
entertained  of  his  talents  as  a  soldier,  and  his  virtues  as  a 
man.  Major  Cummings,  with  whose  military  merits  and 
exertions  I  have  long  been  acquainted,  met  with  a  similar 
fate  while  leading  to  a  charge,  and,  undiscouraged  by  the 
wound,  continued  to  advance,  until  loss  of  blood  obliged  him 
to  retire.  Many  platoon  officers  received  disabling  or  slight 
wounds  in  the  honourable  discharge  of  their  duty,  a  report  of 
whose  names  and  merits  I  have  directed  the  several  chiefs 
of  brigades  to  make  to  me,  in  order  that  I  may  transmit  it 
to  you.  It  is  with  great  satisfaction  I  acknowledge  my  warm- 
est approbation  of  the  gallantry  and  zeal  which  was  constantly 
displayed  throughout  this  eventful  day,  by  brigadier-general 
Swartwout  and  colonel  Coles,  who  commanded  the  detach- 
ment of  the  1st  brigade. 

After  the  fall  of  general  Covington,  colonel  Pierce,  on 
whom  the  command  of  the  third  brigade  devolved,  conducted 
with  his  characteristic  coolness  and  valour.  In  speaking  of 
the  other  numerous  field-officers  who  participated  in  this  bat- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [325 

--colonels  Gaines  and  Ripley,  lieutenant-colonel  Aspin- 
wall,  and  majors  Morgan,  Grafton,  and  Gardner,  their  equal 
claim  to  applause  forbids  the  invidious  task  of  discrimination. 
I  find  a  pleasure  likewise  in  acknowledging'  the  eminent  ser- 
vice I  derived  from  the  experience  and  activity  of  adjutant- 
general  Walback  ;  from  the  assistance  of  inspector-general 
colonel  Johnson,  and  assistant  adjutant-generals  majors 
Beebe  and  Chambers ;  the  latter  was  wounded  in  the  ho- 
nourable discharge  of  his  duty.  In  addition  to  these  ac- 
knowledgments, a  sense  of  justice,  as  well  as  personal  friend- 
ship, induces  me  to  express  my  entire  approbation  of  the  con- 
duct of  lieutenant  Henry  Whiting,  my  aid-de-camp,  who  was 
in  this  instance,  as  he  has  been  during  the  whole  campaign, 
my  zealous  and  brave  assistant ;  lieutenant  Worth,  aid-de- 
camp to  major-general  Lewis,  led  by  a  laudable  ambition, 
left  the  flotilla,  and  volunteered  his  acceptable  services  to 
me  on  the  field. 

Permit  me  now  to  add,  sir,  that  though  the  result  of  this 
action  was  not  so  brilliant  and  decisive  as  I  could  have  wished, 
and  the  first  stages  of  it  seemed  to  promise,  yet  when  it  is 
recollected  that  the  troops  had  been  long  exposed  to  hard 
privations  and  fatigues,  to  inclement  storms  from  which  they 
could  have  no  shelter — that  the  enemy  were  superior  to  us  in 
numbers,  and  greatly  superior  in  position,  and  supported  by 
seven  or  eight  heavy  gun-boats — that  the  action  being  unex- 
pected, was  necessarily  commenced  without  much  concert ; 
that  we  were,  by  unavoidable  circumstances,  long  deprived  of 
our  artillery ;  and  that  the  action  was  warmly  and  obstinately 
contested  for  more  than  three  hours  ;  during  which  there 
were  but  a  few  short  cessations  of  musketry  and  cannon; 
when  all  these  circumstances  are  recollected,  perhaps  this  day 
may  be  thought  to  have  added  some  reputation  to  the  Ame- 
rican arms.  "And  if,  on  this  occasion,  you  shall  believe  me 
to  have  done  my  duty,  and  accomplished  any  one  of  your 
purposes,  I  shall  be  satisfied. 

Allow  me  to  adjoin  my  regret,  which  is  felt  in  common 
with  the  army,  that  the  severity  of  your  indisposition  de- 
prived us  of  your  presence  on  this  occasion.  The  adjutant- 
general  has  been  directed  to  furnish  a  report  of  the  killed, 
wounded,  and  the  casualties  : — and 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  with  great  consideration  and 
respect,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

(Signed)  JOHN  P.  BOYD, 

Brigadier-General  commanding. 

VOL.  T.  PART  IT.  [  U  ll] 


326]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

British  Account. 
Christler's,  William'.burg^  \"2th  Nov.  181o. 

Sir,  I  have  the  heartfelt  gratification  to  report  the  brilliant 
and  gallant  conduct  of  the  detachment  from  the  centre  divi- 
sion of  the  army,  as  yesterday  displayed  in  repulsing  and  de- 
feating a  division  of  the  enemy's  force,  consisting  of  two 
brigades  of  infantry,  and  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  amounting 
to  between  3  and  4000  men,  who  moved  forward  about  2 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  from  Christler's  point,  and  attacked 
our  advance,  which  gradually  fell  back  to  the  position  se- 
lected for  the  detachment  to  occupy,  the  right  resting  on  the 
river,  and  the  left  on  a  pine  wood,  exhibiting  a  front  of  about 
700  yards.  The  ground  being  open,  the  troops  were  thus 
disposed : — 

The  flank  companies  49th  regiment,  the  detachment  Cana- 
dian regiment  with  one  field-piece  under  lieutenant-colonel 
Pearson,  on  the  right,  a  little  advanced  on  the  road.  Three 
companies  89th  regiment  under  captain  Barnes,  with  a  gun, 
formed  in  echellon  with  the  advance,  in  its  left,  supporting 
it.  The  49th  and  89th  thrown  more  to  the  rear,  with  a  gun, 
formed  the  main  body  and  reserve,  extending  to  the  woods 
on  the  left,  which  were  occupied  by  the  Voltigeurs  under 
major  Harriott,  and  the  Indians  under  lieutenant  Anderson. 
At  about  half  past  two,  the  action  became  general,  when  the 
enemy  endeavoured,  by  moving  forward  a  brigade  from  his 
right,  to  turn  our  left,  but  was  repulsed  by  the  89th  forming 
en  potence  with  the  49th,  and  both  corps  moving  forward, 
occasionally  firing  by  platoons ;  his  efforts  were  next  di- 
rected against  our  right,  and  to  repulse  this  movement  the 
49th  took  ground  in  that  direction,  in  echellon,  followed  by 
the  89th.  When  within  half  musket  shot,  the  line  was  formed 
under  a  heavy  but  irregular  fire  from  the  enemy.  The  49th 
was  then  directed  to  charge  their  guns,  posted  opposite  to 
ours,  but  it  became  necessary  when  within  a  short  distance 
of  them,  to  check  this  forward  movement,  in  consequence  of 
a  charge  from  their  cavalry  on  the  right,  lest  they  should 
wheel  about,  and  fall  upon  our  rear,  but  the}'  were  received 
in  so  gallant  a  manner  by  the  companies  of  the  89th  under 
captain  Barnes,  and  the  well-directed  fire  of  the  artillery,  that 
they  quickly  retreated,  and  by  a  charge  from  those  compa- 
nies one  gun  was  gained.  The  enemy  immediately  concen- 
trated their  force  to  check  our  advance,  but  such  was  the 
steady  countenance  and  well-directed  fire  of  the  troops  and 
artillery,  that  about  half  past  four  they  gave  way  at  all  points 
from  an  exceeding  strong  position,  endeavouring  by  their 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [327 

light  infantry  to  cover  their  retreat,  who  were  soon  driven 
away  by  a  judicious  movement  made  by  lieutenant-colonel 
Pearson.  The  detachment  for  the  night  occupied  the  ground 
from  which  the  enemv  had  been  driven,  and  are  now  moving 
forward  in  pursuit.  I  regret  to  find  our  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  has  been  considerable  ;  but  trust  a  most  essential 
service  has  been  rendered  to  the  countrv,  as  the  whole  of  the 
enemy's  infantry  after  the  action  precipitately  retreated  to 
their  own  shores. 

It  is  now  my  grateful  duty  to  point  out  to  your  honour, 
the  benefit  the  service  has  received  from  the  ability,  judg- 
ment, and  active  exertions  of  lieutenant-colonel  Harvey,  the 
deputy  adjutant-general,  for  sparing  whom  to  accompany 
the  detachment,  I  must  again  publicly  express  my  acknow- 
ledgments. To  the  cordial  co-operation  and  exertions  of 
lieutenant-colonel  Pearson,  commanding  the  detachment  from 
Prescott,  lieutenant-colonel  PlenderL  ath,  49th  regiment,  ma- 
jor Clifford,  89th  regiment,  major  Harriott,  of  the  Volti- 
geurs,  and  captain  Jackson  of  the  royal  artillery,  combined 
with  the  gallantry  of  the  troops,  our  great  success  may  be 
attributed;  every  man  did  his  duty,  and  I  believe  I  cannot 
more  strongly  speak  their  merits  than  in  mentioning  that  our 
small  force  did  not  exceed  800  rank  and  file 

To  captains  Davis  and  Skinner  of  the  quarter-master-ge- 
neral's  department,  I  am  under  the  greatest  obligations  for 
the  assistance  I  have  received  from  them  ;  their  zeal  and  ac- 
tivity have  been  unremitting.  Lieutenant  Hagernum  of  the 
militia, and  lieutenant  Anderson  of  the  department,  have  also 
for  their  service  derived  my  public  acknowledgments. 

As  the  prisoners  are  hourly  being  brought  in,  I  am  unable 
to  furnish  your  honour  with  a  correct  return  of  them,  but 
upwards  of  100  are  now  in  our  possession  ;  neither  01  the 
ordnance  stores  taken,  as  the  whole  has  not  yet  been  col- 
lected. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servant, 

J.  W.  MORRISON, 
Lieutenant-colonel^  89th  Regt.  coni'g. 
His  Honour  Major-General  De  Rottenburg,  &c.  &?c.  &JV. 

Return  of  Killed,  Wounded,  and  Aliasing  of  the  Detachment  un- 
der the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Morrison,  in  an  Ac- 
tion with  the  Enemy,  at  IVilliamsburg,  on  the  1  It/i  Nov.  1 8 1 3. 
Killed,  22  ;  wounded,  147;  missing,  9  and  3  Indians. 


328] 


HISTORICAL  REGISTJ 


WAR    WITH    THE    CREKK    INDIANS. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from   George  S.  Gaines,   Esq.   to  Governoi 

Blount,  dated 

Fort  St.  Stephens  (Mss.  7>r.),  July  30. 
Sir,  about  a  week  ago  the  colonel  of  this  county  (having 
been  satisfactorily  informed  that  the  party  of  Indians,  who 
>had  gone  to  Pensucola  for  ammunition,  and  threatened  these 
settlements  with  an  attack,  had  actually  been  supplied  by  the 
Spanish  governor  with  a  quantity  of  powd'.-r)  collected  about 
180  militia,  pushed  out  to  the  Creek  trading  road,  about 
seventy  miles  east  of  this  place,  and  on  the  27th  instant  met 
with  the  party,  had  a  battle  with  them,  and  succeeded  in 
taking  away  a  considerable  quantity  of  powder,  but  the  In- 
dians had  so  much  the  advantage  of  the  battle-ground  (being 
on  the  edge  of  a  cane-break),  our  militia  after  fighting  them 
two  hours  were  compelled  to  retreat  with  the  loss  of  three 
men  killed  and  eight  or  ten  wounded.  It  was  believed  that 
upwartfe  of  twenty  Indians  were  killed. 

It  is  said  that  our  settlements  will  be  attacked  by  great 
numbers  in  a  few  days,  and  I  trust  that  some  assistance  may 
be  afforded  us  from  your  state  immediately.  Our  communi- 
cation with  Georgia  is  entirely  "cut  off;  the  last  mail  attempted 
to  be  sent  through  the  Cieek  nation  was  taken  from  the  post 
rider  by  the  party  of  Creek  Indians  who  went  to  Pensacola 
for  ammunition,  and  I  am  told  has  been  delivered  to  the  go- 
vernor at  that  place. 

Yours,  affectionately, 

GEORGE  S.  GAINES. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  General  Ferdinand  L.  Claiborne,  to 
General  Flour noy,  commanding  the  7th  Military  District. 
Cantonment  Mount  Yernon,  Sept.  3,   1813. 
Sir,  on  the  31st  ultimo  I  hud  the*  honour  to  receive  your 
letter  of  the  24th,  with  its  enclosure,  forwarded  by  express 
to  me,  then   at   Easley's  station,  near,,  the  Creek   line,  and 
about  85  miles  above  this,   on  the  Tombigbee. 

Col.  Hawkins's  communications  ior  some  time  past  have 
unfortunately  had  a  tendency  to  lessen  our  apprehensions,  and 
to  beget,  a  belief  of  our  almost  perfect  security.  My  little, 
but  inestimable  corps,  have  felt  the  effects  begotten  by  the 
doubts  which  existed  as  to  the  real  intention  of  the  Creeks. 
It  probably  prevented  you  yourself,  and  certainly  governor 
Holmes,  from  sending  troops  to  this  exposed  part  of  the 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [329 

country.  About  the  23d  ult.  I  received  information  that 
1200  Indians  were  on  the  eve  of  entering  the  territory,  with 
intention  to  attack  the  upper  posts  on  the  Tombigbee,  that 
commanded  by  colonel  Carson  in  the  fork  of  the  Tombigbee- 
and  Alabama  rivers,  and  the  one  on  Tensavv,  commanded 
by  major  Beasley.  The  Indians  from  the  Black  Warrior 
were  to  attack  the  upper  posts  ;  and  those  from  the  Alabama 
that  on  Tensaw.  This  information  was  immediately  com- 
municated to  colonel  Carson  and  to  major  Bvasley,  and  my 
arrangements  m  ide  for  the  defence  of  th  •  three  places 
threatened,  in  the  best  manner  of  which  the  limited  means 
I  possessed  would  admit. 

With  eighty  men  I  went  myself  to  Easley's,  and  was 
joined  by  two  detachments  of  volunteer  militia,  under  the 
command  of  colonel  Haines,  aid-de-camp  to  governor  Holmes, 
and  by  a  captain  Cassity.  The  place  was  "not  attacked  at  the 
time  expected,  and  after  several  unsuccessful  attempts  to 
gain  intelligence, my  scouts  fell  in  \\itht\voChaktaw  Indians, 
from  whose  information  I  was  induced  to  believe,  that  no 
attack  would  soon  be  made.  In  fact  the\  seemed  rather  to 
insinuate  that  the  enemy  was  rather  intimidated,  and  stated 
that  the  Chaktaws  in  the  imnv.-diate  neighbourhood  who  had 
joined  them,  had,  at  the  -instance  of  Pooshemataha  (a 
medal  chief),  withdrawn  from  them,  intending  to  r.  m  tin 
neutral;  and  that  they  had  removed  and  were  removing  from 
the  scene  of  action,  to  a  nvore  secure  place  for  their  women 
and  children.  This  I  ascertained  to  be  the  fact.  Their 
towns  were  visited  by  captain  W  11s,  fof  dragoons,  and  found 
abandoned.  Under  these  circumstances  I  left  Easley?s  sta- 
tion, and,  on  mv  way  to  this  post,  learned  that  major  Beasley 
had  been  attacked.  I  reached  this  place  at  twelve  o'clock 
last  night,  having  rode  seventy  miles  since  morning. 

The  attack  on  major  Beasley  was  made  ataboib  11  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  on  the  30th  ult.  It  was  unexpected  at  the  mom  nt  it 
occurred,  but  the  whole  garrison  was  immediately  under 
arms.  The  front  gate  was  open,  and  the  enemy  ran  in  great 
numbers  to  possess  themselves  of  it.  In  the  contest  for  the 
gate  many  fell  on  both  sides.  Soon,  however,  the  action 
became  general,  the  enemy  fighting  on  all  sides  in  the  open 
field,  and  as  near  the  stockad-j  as  they  could  get.  The  port- 
holes were  taken  and  retaken  several  times.  A  block-house 
was  contended  for  by  captain  Jack,  at  the  head  of  his  rave 
riflemen,  for  the  space  of  an  hour  after  the  enemy  were  in 
possession  of  part  of  it,  when  finally  they  succeeded  in  driv- 
ing this  company  into  a  house  in  the  fort,  and  having  stopped 


330]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

* 

many  of  the  port- holes  with  the  ends  of  rails,  possessed 
themselves  of  the  walls.  From  the  houses  our  troops  made 
a  most  gallant  defence,  hut  the  enemy  set  fire  to  the  roofs, 
and  an  attempt  to  extinguish  the  flames  proved  unsuccessful. 
The  few  who  remained  now  attempted  a  retreat  under  the  di- 
rection of  captain  Bayley,  of  the  militia,  and  ensign  Cham- 
bliss  of  the  rifle  company,  both  of  whom  had  been  badly 
wounded.  Previously  to  their  retreat,  they  threw  into  the 
flames  many  of  the  guns  of  the  dead  men.  Few  of  them 
succeeded  in  escaping.  Both  the  officers  are  missing,  and 
supposed  to  be  dead.  Nine  of  the  volunteers  and  three  of 
the  volunteer  militia  have  reached  this,  several  of  them 
wounded.  A  few  citizens  who  fought  in  the  stockade,  but 
not  enrolled  in  any  company,  also  escaped,  one  of  them 
leaving  a  wife  and  six  children,  who  were  probably  burnt  to 
death. 

Major  Beasley  fell  gallantly  fighting  at  the  head  of  his 
command  near  the  gate,  at  the  commencement  of  the  action. 
Captain  Jack  was  killed  about  the  close  of  the  scene,  having 
previously  received  two  wounds.  Captain  Middle t^n  also 
distinguished  himself,  having  received  four  or  five  wounds 
before  he  fell.  He  was  active,  and  fought  bravely  from  the 
commencement  of  the  action  until  he  died.  Lieutenant 
Spruce  M.  Osborn,  of  Wilkinson  county,  after  receiving 
two  wounds,  was  taken  into  a  house,  but  requested  to  die  on 
the  ground,  that  he  might  as  long  as  possible  see  the  men 
fight.  The  other  officers  fell  nobly  doing  their  duty  ;  and 
the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  deserve  equally 
well.  The  action  continued  until  five  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

Our  loss  is  great — sixty-five,  including  officers  and  men, 
were  killed  belonging  to  the  1st  regiment  of  Mississippi  ter- 
ritory volunteers,  and  twenty-seven  volunteer  militia,  officers 
included.  Many  respectable  citizens,  with  numerous  fami- 
lies, who  had  abandoned  their  farms  for  security,  were  also 
killed  or  burnt  in  the  houses  into  which  they  had  fled.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  must  have  been  from  one  hundred  and 
fifty  to  two  hundred  killed  and  wounded.  Their  force  is 
supposed  to  have  been  from  five  to  seven  hundred. 

At  the  mills  of  Messrs.  I.  and  W.  Pierce,  about  a  mile 
from  the  post,  is  a  small  guard,  commanded  by  lieutenant 
Montgomery,  which  were  stationed  previous  to  and  at  the 
time  ol  the  attack  ;  but  it  is  believed  he  abandoned  his  posi- 
tion in  time  to  save  his  command.  He  has  not  yet  been 
heard  of,  but  I  hope  made  good  his  retreat  to  Mobile. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [331 

Lieutenant-colonel  Ross,  whilst  at  Mobile,  hearing  of  the 
fate,  or  probable  fate  of  our  troops  on  Tensaw,  ordered 
captain  Blue,  of  the  7th  United  States  regiment,  with  10O 
men,  to  this  place,  and  he  arrived  about  day-break  this  morn- 
ing, and  will  here  wait  your  orders.  We  are  busily  engaged 
in  fitting  this  cantonment  for  defence,  and  will  be  prepared  to 
give  a  good  account  of  the  enemy,  should  an  opportunity 
offer.  They  will,  however,  not  attack  us  until  they  unite  all 
their  forces  ;  but,  when  they  do,  you  may  rely  on  their  being 
warmly  received.  It  is  my  belief  that  they  cannot  bring  a 
force  against  us  which  we  will  not  be  able  to  defeat ;  but  we 
can  do  no  more  than  defend  ourselves  in  this  place. 

I  have  not  heard  from  colonel  Carson.  He  has  a  good 
stockade,  and  a  garrison  of  about  150  volunteers,  and  within 
200  yards  is  a  station,  in  which  are  many  families,  and  about 
fifty  fighting  men.  Should  the  Indians  attack  the  colonel,  he 
will  certainly  de-feat  them.  Dent's  and  Scott's  companies  are 
ordered  from  Easley's  to  St.  .Stephens,  where  are  also  the 
broken  companies  of  Morrison  and  Foelckill.  In  the  Chac- 
taw  factory  at  St.  Stephens,  there  is  much  public  property. 
At  this  place  we  have  the  papers  belonging  to  the  land  office. 
The  farms  in  the  country  are  entirely  abandoned  ;  the  citi- 
zens having  left  them  and  fivd  to  the  different  forts,  and  the 
enemy  will  enrich  themselves  with  plunder.  I  have  not  a 
force  which  will  enable  me  to  guard  this  extensive  frontier, 
and  the  country  must  rest  upon  governor  Holmes  in  part  for 
aid.  I  know  that  your  situation  will  not  admit  of  your  draw- 
ing much,  if  any  force,  from  Mobile  to  Mobile  Point,  and 
that  you  have  no  disposable  troops  on  the  Mississippi.  Ma- 
nac  (a  half  breed),  who  can  be  relied  on,  was  at  Pensacola 
about  ten  days  ago.  He  says  that  while  he  was  there,  three 
vessels  with  Spanish  troops  arrived. 

Judge  Toulmin  and  a  great  many  families,  have  left  this 
part  of  the  country  and  gone  to  Mobile.  I  fear  many  of  the 
negroes  will  run  off  to  the  enemy — indeed  they  are  already 
in  possession  of  about  100  of  them,  and  a  large  quantity  of 
stock  and  other  property. 

Six  o'clock,  P.  M.  An  express  has  this  moment  arrived 
from  general  Flournoy,  with  orders  for  the  3d  United  States 
regiment  to  march  immediately. 

The  volunteer  cavalry  are  also  under  similar  orders. 


332]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Kennedy  to  Brigadier-General 
Claiborne,  dated  Mount-Vernon,  September  26th,  1813. 

Sir,  agreeablv  to  vour  order  of  the  21st  instant,  we  pro- 
ceeded to  Mini's  Fort,  to  collect  the  bones  of  our  countrymen 
that  fell  in  the  late  attack  on  that  place,  and  to  bury  their  re- 
mnins,  the  last  humane  office  that  we  could  perform  to  the 
obsequies  of  our  fellow-citizens  and  brother  soldiers. 

We  collected  and  consigned  to  the  earth  two  hundred  and 
forty-seven,  including  men,  women,  and  children. 

The  adjacent  woods  were  strictly  searched  for  our  coun- 
trymen, and  in  that  pursuit  we  discovered  at  least  one  hun- 
dred slaughtered  Indians.  They  were  covered  with  rails, 
brush,  &c.  We  could  not  be  mistaken  as  to  their  being  .In- 
dians, as  they  were  interred  with  their  war  dresses  and  imple- 
ments ;  and  although  they  have  massacred  a  number  of  our 
helpless  women  and  children,  it  is,  beyond  doubt,  to  them  a 
dear  bought  victory.  The  adjacent  country  we  had  strictly 
examined,  and  no  sign  of  Indians  could  be  discovered. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  your  obedi- 
ent servants, 

J.  P.  KENNEDY,  Captain 
and  Brigade- Major  commanding  the  Detachment. 
F.  Z.  Claiborne,  Brigadier-General,  commanding 

Mount-  Vernon  and  its  Dependencies. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Lieutenant- Colonel  Bower  to  Brigadier- 
General  Claiborne,  dated  Mobile  Point,  September  14,  1813. 
Sir,  I  have  information,  from  a  source  in  which  I  place 
every  confidence,  that  a  British  armed  schooner  from  the 
Bahamas  arrived  at  Pensacola  on  the  10th  instant,  with  a 
large  supply 'of  arms,  ammunition,  clothing,  and  blankets  for 
the  Creek  Indians,  also  that  the  old  Seminole  chief  Perriman 
and  his  son  William,  the  latter  lately  appointed  a  brigadier- 
general  in  the  British  service,  are  at  Pensacola.  They  drove 
into  that  place  two  hundred  head  of  fine  cattle,  and  sacrificed 
them  at  the  heretofore  unknown  price  of  from  one  to  eight 
dollars  per  head.  Fifty  cows  and  calves  sold  for  fifty  dollars, 
so  anxious  were  they  to  get  supplies  to  join  the  hostile  In- 
dians. 

I  am  well  acquainted  with  those  chiefs,  and  know  they 
have  great  influence  with  their  people. 

It  appears  that  the  arms,  &c.  were  forwarded  in  conse- 
quence of  an  address  sent  to  the  governor  of  Jamaica  some 
time  since  by  the  Creek  Indians.  The  schooner,  the  proper- 
ty of  a  well-known  free-booter,  a  captain  Johnson  of  the  Ba- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  j>33 

liamas,  who  has  made  his  fortune  by  preying  upon  the  com- 
merce of  France,  Spain,  and  the  United  States.  I  recollect 
his  breaking  out  of  the  prison  in  New-Orleans  in  the  year 
1809. 

I  hope  the  arrival  of  th.*e  supplies  will  give  you  a  short 
respite,  and  enable  you  to  prepare  for  any  force  the  whole 
confederation  can  possibly  bring  against  your  posts.  It  would 
astonish  you  to  see  the  labour  we  have  performed  at  this 
post.  We  have,  literally  speaking,  levelled  mountaifts  and  fil- 
led up  vallies. 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  JOHN  BOWER, 

Lieutenant-Colonel  commanding. 
Brigadier-General  Claiborne. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Brigadier-General  Coffee  to  Major-Gene- 
ral Jacks  on  ^  commanding  the  Tennessee  Militia. 

Camp  at  Ten  Islands,  November  4,  1813. 
Major-General  Jackson, 

Sir,  I  had  the  honour  yesterday  of  transmitting  you  a  short 
account  of  an  engagement  that  took  place  between  a  detach- 
ment of  about  nine  hundred  men  from  my  brigade,  with  the  ene- 
my at  Tullushatches  towns,  the  particulars  whereof  I  beg  leave 
herein  to  recite  to  you.  Pursuant  to  your  orders  of  the  2d,  I  de- 
tailed from  my  brigade  of  cavalry  and  mounted  riflemen,  nine 
hundred  men  and  officers,  and  proceeded  directly  to  the  Tul- 
lushatches towns  ;  crossed  Coosey  river  at  the  Fish-Dam  ford, 
three  or  four  miles  above  this  place.  I  arrived  within  one 
and  a  half  miles  of  the  town  (distant  from  this  place  south-east 
eight  miles),  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  at  which  place  I  di- 
vided my  detachment  into  two  columns,  the  right  composed 
of  the  cavalry  commanded  by  colonel  Allcorn,  to  cross  over 
a  large  creek  that  lay  between  us  and  the  towns,  the  left  column 
was  of  the  mounted  riflemen  under  the  command  of  colonel 
Cannon,  with  whom  I  marched  myself.  Colonel  Allcorn  was 
ordered  to  march  up  on  the  right  and  encircle  one  half  of  the 
town,  and  at  the  same  time  the  left  would  form  a  half  circle  on 
the  left,  and  unite  the  head  of  the  columns  in  front  of  the  town  ; 
all  of  which  was  performed  as  I  could  wish.  When  I  arrived 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  tow^fs,  the  drums  of  the  enemy  be- 
gan to  beat,  mingled  with  their  savage  yells,  preparing  for 
action.  It  was  after  sun-rise  an  hour  when  the  action  was 
brought  on  by  captain  Hammond  and  lieutenant  Patterson's 
companies,  who  had  gone  on  within  the  circle  of  alignment 
VOL.  I.  PART  II.  [  X  x] 


334]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

for  the  purpose  of  drawing  out  the  enemy  from  their  buiid- 
,  which  had  the  most  happy  effects.  As  soon  as  captain 
Hammond  exhibited  his  front  in  view  of  the  town  (which 
stood  in  open  woodland),  and  gave  a  few  scattering  shot,  the 
em- my  formed  and  made  a  violent  charge  on  him;  he  gave 
way  as  they  advanced,  until  they  met  our  right  column,  which 
gave  them  a  general  fire  and  then  charged.  This  changed 
the  direction  of  charge  completely.  The  enemy  retreated 
firing,  until  they  got  around  and  in  their  buildings,  where 
they  made  all  the  resistance  that  an  overpowered  soldier 
could  do  ;  they  fought  as  long  as  one  existed  ;  but  their  de- 
struction was  very  soon  completed ;  our  men  rushed  up  to 
the  doors  of  the  houses,  and  in  a  few  minutes  killed  the  last 
warrior  of  them.  The  enemy  fought  with  savage  fury,  and 
met  death  with  all  its  horrors  without  shrinking  or  complain- 
ing; not  one  asked  to  be  spar.ed,  but  fought  so  long  as  they 
could  stand  or  sit.  In  consequence  of  their  flying  to  their 
houses  and  mixing  with  their  families,  our  men  in  killing  the 
males,  without  intention  killed  a  few  of  the  squaws  and  chil- 
dren, which  was  regretted  by  every  officer  and  soldier  of  the 
detachment,  but  which  could  not  be  avoided. 

The  number  of  the  enemy  killed  was  one  hundred  and 
eighty-six  that  were  counted,  and  a  number  of  others  that 
were  killed  in  the  woods  not  found.  I  think  the  calculation 
a  reasonable  one  to  say  two  hundred  of  them  were  killed,  and 
eighty-Four  prisoners,  of  women  and  children,  were  taken. 
Not  one  of  the  warriors  escaped  to  carry  the  news,  a  circum- 
stance unknown  heretofore. 

I  lost  five  men  killed  and  forty-one  wounded,  none  mortal- 
ly, the  greater  part  slightly,  a  number  with  arrows.  Two  of 
the  men  killed  were  with  arrows.  This  appears  to  form  a 
very  principal  part  of  the  enemy's  arms  for  warfare,  every 
man  having  a  bow  with  a  bundle  of  arrows,  which  is  used  af- 
ter the  first  fire  with  the  gun,  until  a  leisure  time  for  loading 
offers. 

It  is  with  pleasure  I  sav  that  our  men  acted  with  delibera- 
tion and  firmness.  Notwithstanding  our  numbers  were  far 
superior  to  that  of  the  enemy,  it  was  a  circumstance  to  us  un- 
known, and  from  the  parade  of  the  enemy  we  had  every  rea- 
son for  supposing  them  our  eq^ils  in  number;  but  there  ap- 
peared no  visible  traces  of  alarm  in  any,  but,  on  the  contra- 
ry, all  appeared  cool  and  determined,  and  no  doubt  when  they 
lace  a  foe  of  their  own  or  superior  number,  they  will  show 
the  same  courage  as  on  this  occasion. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [335 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  obedi- 
ent servant, 

JNO.  COFFEE, 
Brig. -Gen.  of  Cavalry  and  Riflemen. 
Maj.-Gcn.  Andrew  Jackson. 

Killed,  5  privates  ;  wounded,  4  .captains,  2  lieutenants,  2 
cornets,  3  Serjeants,  5  corporals,  1  artificer,  24  privates — to- 
tal killed  and  wounded,  46. 

°f  a  Letter  from  Major-General  Jackson,  commanding 
the  Tennessee  Militia,  to  Governor  Blount. 
Camp  Str other,  near  Ten  Islands,  1 5th  Nov.  1813. 
Sir,  in  my  letter  of  the  llth,   1  gave  you  a  hasty  account 
the  battle  of  Talledega  ;  and  of  the  causes  which  com- 
pelled me  to  return  to  this  place.       I  now  do  myself  the  ho- 
inur  of  transmitting  you  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  ax> 
ion  ;  together  with  the  report  of  the  adjutant-general  of  "the 
cilled  and  wounded. 

About  thirty  miles  below,  at  a  place  known  by  the 
lame  of  Talledega,  160  men  of  the  friendly  party  of  the 
>eeks,  with  their  women  and  children,  are  forced,  the  more 
fectually  to  resist  the  efforts  of  the  "  Red  Sticks,"  or  hos- 
tile party.  Late  in  the  evening  of  the  7th,  one  of  the  prin- 
:ipal  men  of  that  fort  (Lashly),  arrived  here  with  the  infor- 
mation that  the  enemy  had  arrived  there  in  great  numbers, 
and  would  certainh-  destroy  the  fort  and  all  within  it,  unless 
speedy  relief  could  be  obtained  from  this  army.  Urged  by 
this  representation,  I  immediately  gave  orders  for  taking  up 
the  line  of  march  with  1200  infantry  and  800  cavalry  and 
mounted  riflemen — leaving  behind  me  the  sick,  the  wounded, 
and  all  my  baggage,  with  what  I  considered  a  sufficient, force 
to  protect  them,  until  the  arrival  of  general  White,  who  was 
hourly  expected.  At  12  o'clock  at  night  the  army  was  in 
motion,  and  I  commenced  crossing  the  river  at  the  Ten 
Islands,  opposite  our  late  encampment,  which  in  a  few  hours 
was  effected,  On  the  night  of  the  8th,  I  encamped  wiihin 
six  miles  of  the  enemy  ;  and  about  1 1  o'clock  two  of  the 
friendly  Indians,  with  George  Ivlayfield,  whom  I  had  sent  to 
reconnoitre  the  enemv,  returned  with  the  intelligence  that 
they  were  encamped  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  fort; 
but  were  unable  to  approach  near  enough  to  give  me  any  ac- 
curate information  of-  their  number  or  precise  situation. 
Within  an  hour  afterwards  old  ChenubHv  arrived  froai  Tur- 
key Town,  with  a  letter  from  general  White,  advising  nv  of 
his  retrogade  movement,  occasioned  by  an  order  of  major- 


336]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

general  Cocke.  Finding  that  the  utmost  despatch  had  now 
become  necessary  for  the  protection  oi  my  rear,  I  immediately 
ordered  the  adjutant-general  to  prepare  the  line  of  march, 
and  at  4  o'clock  we  were  in  motion — the  infantry  in  three 
columns— the  cavalry  and  mounted  rifleman  in  the  rear, 
with  flankers  on  each  wing.  The  right  wing  of  the.  infantry 
was  led  on  by  colonel  Bradley — the  centre  by  colonjl  Pil- 
low— the  left  bv  colonel  M'Crory — the  rl^ht  of  the  cavalry 
by  colonel  Allcorn — and  the  left  by  colonel  Carmon.  The 
advance  consisting  of  captain  Deadrick's  company  of  artil- 
lery, with  musket — captain  Bledsoe's  and  captain  Caper- 
ton's  companies  of  riflemen;  nnd  captain  Gordon's  com- 
pany of  spies  were  marched  400  yards  in  front,  under  the 
command  of  colonel  Carrol,  the  inspector-general,  to  bring 
on  the  engagement.  At  7  o'clock,  having  arrived  within 
a  mile  of  the  enemy,  I  ordered  the  cavalry  and  mounted  ri- 
flemen -to  advance  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  infantry,'  and 
enclose  the  enemy  in  •a  circle. 

Two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  cavalry  and  mounted  rifle- 
men, commanded  by  lieutenant-colonel  Dyer,  were  placed  in 
the  rear  of  the  centre  as  a  corps  de  reserve.  General  Hall's 
brigade  occupied  the  right — general  Roberts'  the  left ;  and 
were  ordered  to  advance  by  heads  of  companies.  The  ca- 
valry were  ordered,  after  having  encircled  the  enemy  by  uni- 
ting the  fronts  of  their  columns  and  keeping  their  rear  con- 
nected with  the  .infantry,  to  face  and  press  inwards  towards 
the  centre,  so  as  to  leave  the  enemy  no  possibility  of  escape. 
In  the  execution  of  this  order  it  unfortunately  happened,  that 
too  great  a  space  was  left  between  the  rear  of  the  right  wing 
of  cavalry  and  general  Hall's  brigade,  through  which  a  part 
of  the  enemy  ultimately  effected  their  retreat.  At  8  o'clock, 
the  advance  having  arrived  within  80  yards  of  the  enemy, 
who  were  concealed  in  the  thick  shrubbery  which  covered 
the  margin  of  a  branch,  received  from  them  a  heavy  fire, 
which  was  returned  with  great  rapidity ;  charged  and  dis- 
lodged them  from  their  position ;  and  turned  upon  the  right 
wing  of  general  Roberts'  brigade.  The  advance  then  fell 
back,  as  the}-  had  been  previously  ordered,  to  the  centre.  At 
the  approach  of  the  enemy,  three  companies  of  the  militia, 
having  given  one  fire,  commenced  a  retreat,  notwithstanding 
the  utmost  exertions  of  colonel  M'Crory  and  major  Sevier, 
who  are  entitled  to  great  praise  for  thair  bravery  on  that  oc- 
casion. To  fill  ihe  vacancy  oc(  asioned  by  this  retreat,  I  im- 
mediately ordered  up  colonel  Bradl-v's  regiment  of  volun- 
teers i  but  finding  the  advance  of  the  enemy  too  rapid  to  a«l- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [337 

mit  of  tlieir  arrival  in  time,  I  was  compelled  to  order  the  re- 
serve to  dismount  and  meet  them.  This  order  was  executed 
with  great  promptitude  and  gallantry;  and  the  enemy  in  that 
quarter  speedily  rtpulsi-d.  The  militia  who  had  retreated,'see- 
ing  the  spirited  stand  which  was  making  by  the  reserve,  im- 
mediately rallied ;  arid  recovering  the  position  which  the 
enemy  had  just  driven  them  from,  poured  upon  them  a  most 
destructive  fire.  The  engagement  now  became  general;  and 
in  fifteen  minutes  the  enemy  were  seen  flying  in  every  direc- 
tion. On  the  left  they  were  met  and  repulsed  bynhe  mounted 
riflemen.  On  the  right  a  part  of  tlu  m  escaped  through  the 
opening  between  the  right  wing  of  the  cavalry  and  the  in- 
fantry, and  were  pursued  with  great  slaughter  to  the  moun- 
tains, a  distance  of  three  miles.  In  ihis  pursuit  the  brave 
colonels  Pillow  of  the  infantry,  and  Lauderdale  of  the  cavalry, 
major  Boyd  of  the  mounted  infantry,  and  lieutenant  Barton, 
were  wounded — the  latter  of  whom  has  since  died. 

You  will  perceive  from  a  draft  which  I  shall  send  you  that 
had  there  been  no  departure  from  the  original  order  of  bat- 
tle, not  an  Indian  could  have  escaped  ;  and  even  as  the  bat- 
tle did  terminate,  I  believe  that  no  impartial  man  can  say 
that  a  more  splendid  result  has  in  any  instance  attended  our 
arms  on  land,  since  the  commencement  of  the  war.  The  force 
of  the  enemy  is  represented  by  themselves  to  have  been 
1080;  and  it  does  not  appear  from  their  fire  and  the  space 
ot  ground  which  they  occupied,  that  their  number  can  have 
been  less.  Two  hundred  and  mnetv-nine  were  left  dead  o'n 
the  ground;  and  no  doubt  many  more  were  killed  who  were 
not  found.  It  is  believed  that  very  few  escaped  without  a 
wound.  In  a  very  few  weeks,  if  I  had  a  sufficiency  of  sup- 
plies, I  am  thoroughly  convinced  I  should  be  able  to  put  an 
end  to  Creek  hostility. 

The  friendly  Creeks  from  Talledcga  fort  tell  me  that  the 
enemy  consider  themselves  already  Completely  beaten  ;  and 
state  as  a  proof  of  their  sense  of  the  magnitude  of  the  de- 
feat they  have  sustained,  and  of  their  returning  disposition 
for  peace,  that  they  have,  since  the  battle,  liberated  several  of 
the  friendly  party  whomjhey  had  previously  taken  as  pri- 
soners. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  bestowed  upon  the  advance, 
led  on  by  colonel  Carrol,  for  the  spirited  manner  in  which 
they  commenced  and  sustained  the  attack  ;  nor  upon  the  re- 
serve, commanded  by  lieutenant-colonel  Dyer,  and  composed 
of  captains  Smith's,*  Morton's,  Axum's,  Edwards',  and  Ham- 
mond's companies,  for  the  gallantry  with  which  they  met 


-o38]  1IISTORICAL.REGISTER. 

and  repulsed  the  enemy.  In  a  word,  officers  of  every  grade, 
;-ts  \vcll  as  the  privates,  realized  the  high  expectations  I  had 
formed  of  them,  and  merit  the  gratitude  of  their  country. 

I  should  be  doing  injustice  to  my  staff,  composed  of  ma- 
jors Reid  and  S-.-arcy,  my  aids ;  colonel  Sittler  and  major 
Anthony,  adjutant  and  assistant-adjutant-general  ;  colonel 
Carrol,  inspector-general;  major  StrothiT,  topographer;  Mr. 
Cunningham,  my  secretary;  and  colonel  Stack ey  D.  Hayes, 
quarter-master-general  ;,  not  to  say  that  they  were  every 
•\\ihere  in  the  Tnidst  of  danger,  circulating  my  orders.  They 
deserve  and  receive  my  thanks. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  Sec. 

ANDREW  JACKSON. 

Killed  and  wounded — In  general  Coffee's  brigade,  10  kil- 
cd  and  45  wounded ;  total  55 — In  general  Hall's  brigade, 
1  killed  and  11  wounded;  total  12 — In  general  Roberts' 
brigade,  4  killed  and  24-  wound  'd  ; — total  28. 

Total  of  killed  and  wounded — 95. 

The  above  statement  is  correct,  agreeably  to  the  reports 
made  to  me. 

J.  W.- SITTLER,  Adjutant-Gen. 
Head- Barters,  Camp  Strcther,  near 
Ten  Islands,  15th  Nov.  1813. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Major-Genera!  Code  to  the  Secretary  of 

War,  dated  Head  Barters,  Fort  Armstrong,  November  2,81  h, 

1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  you  a  copy  of  brigadier- 
general  James  White's  detailed  report  of  his  excursion  to  the 
Hillibee  towns. 

I  am,  with  sentiments  of  esteem,  your  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, 

JOHN  COCKE,   Major-General. 

Pert  Armstrong,  November  24M,  1813. 
Dear  general,  in  mine  oi  the  19th  insrant,  by  major  Out- 
law, I  promised  you  a  more  detailed  report,  respecting  the 
detachment  ordered  bv  you  to  the  Hillibee  towns  in  the  Creek 
nation.  In  compliance  with  that  promise  I  have  now  the  ho- 
nour to  state,  that  under  your  order  of  the  llth  instant  I  im- 
mediately marched  with  the  mounted  infantry,  under  the  im- 
mediate command  of  colonel  Burch,  the  cavalry  under  the 
cominand  of  major  Porter,  and  a  few  of  the  Cherokee  In- 
dians under  the  command  of  colonel  Morgan,  with  very 
short  rations  for  four  davs  only.  We  continued  our  march 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS,  [339 

to  Little  Oakfuskie,  when  we  fell  in  with  and  captured  five 
hostile   Creek   warriors,  supposed  to  be   spies.      Finding  no 
other  Indians  at  that  placr,  we  burned  the  town,  which  con- 
sisted of  thirty  houses.     We  then  proceeded  to  a  town  called 
Genalga,  and  burned  the  same,  consisting  of  ninety-three  hou- 
ses ;  thence  we  proceeded  to   Nitty   Chaptoa,   consisting  of 
about  twenty-five  houses,  which  I  considered  it  most  prudent 
not  to  destroy,  as  it  might  be  of  use  at  some  future  period. 
From  thence  we  marched  to  the  Hillibee  town,  consisting  of 
about  twenty  houses,  adjoining  which  was  Grayson's  farm. 
Previous  to  our  arrival  at  that  place,  I  was  advised  that  a  party 
of  hostile  Creeks  was  assembled  there.     Having  marched 
within  'six  or  eight  miles  of  it  on  the  evening  of  the  17th,  I 
dismounted  a  part  of  the  force  under  my  command,  and  sent 
them,  under  the  command  of  colonel  Burch,  with  the  Chero- 
kees,  under  the  command  of  colonel  Morgan,  in  advance,  to 
"surround  the  town  in  the  night,  and  make  the  attack  at  day- 
light on  the  18th.     Owing  to  the  darkness  of  the  night,  the 
town  was  not  reached  until  after  day-light;  but  so  complete 
was  the  surprise,  that  we  succeeded  in  surrounding  the  town, 
and  killing  and  capturing  almost,  if  not  entirely,  the  whole  of 
the  hostile  Creeks  assembled  there,  consisting  of  about  316, 
of  which  number  about  60  warriors  were  killed  on  the  spot, 
and  the  remainder  made  prisoners.     Before  the  close  of  the 
engagement,   my  whole  force  was  up  and  ready   for  action, 
had  it  become  necessary  ;  but  owing  to  the  want  of  knowledge 
on  the  part  of  the  Indians  of  our  approach,  they  were  entirely 
killed  and  taken  before  they  could  prepare  for  any  effectual 
defence.     We  lost  not  one  drop  of  blood  in  accomplishing 
this  enterprise.   We  destroyed  this  village ;  and,  in  obedience 
lo  your  orders,  commenced  'our  march  for  this  post,  which 
we  were  unable  to  reach  until  yesterday.      I  estimate  the  dis- 
tance from  this  to  Grayson's  farm  at  about  100  miles.     The 
ground  over  which  we  travelled  is  so  rough  and  hilly,  as  to 
render  a  passage  very  difficult.      Many  defiles  it  was  impos- 
ble  to  pass  in  safety,  without  the  greatest  precaution.     For  a 
part  oi  the  time  the  weather  was  so  Very  wet,  being  encum- 
bered with  prisoners,  and  the  troops  and  their  horses  having 
to  subsist,  in  a  very  great  degree,  upon  such  supplies  as  we 
could  procure  in  the  nation,  rendered  our  march  more  tardy 
than  it  otherwise  would  have  been. 

The  troops  under  my  command  have  visited  the  heart  of 
that  section  of  the  Creek  nation  where  the  Red  Slicks  were 
first  distributed. 

Injustice  to  this  gallant  band,  I  am  proud  to  state,  thatthe 


340J  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

whole  of  the  officers  and  men  under  the  command  of  colonel 
Burch  performed  their  duty  cheerfully  and  without  complaint 
— that  from  the  cool,  orderly,  and  prompt  manner  in  which 
major  Porter,  and  the  cavulrv  under  his  command,  formed 
and  conducted  themselves  in  every  case  of  alarm,  I  had  the 
highest  confidence  in  them.  Colonel  Morgan  and  the  Che- 
rokees  under  his  command  gave  undenhble  evidence  that 
they  merit  the  employment  of  the  government.  In  short, 
sir,  the  whole  detachment  under  my  command  conducted  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  enable  me  to  assure  you  that  they  are  ca- 
pable of  performing  any  thing  to  which  the  same  number  of 
men  are  equal. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  add,  that  Mr.  M'Crory,  who  acted 
as  my  aid  in  this  expedition,  rendered  services  that  to  me 
were  indispensablevto  his  country  very  useful,  and  to  himself 
highly  honourable. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant, 

JAMES  WHITE,  Brigadier-General. 
Major -Gene  raj-  John  Cocke. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Major-General  Pinckncy  to  the  Secretanj 

of  War,  dated  Head-barters,  6th  and  7th  Districts,  Mil- 

ledgeville,  7th  December,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  of  enclosing  you  despatches  just  re- 
ceived from  general  Floyd,  commanding  the  troops  of  the 
state  of  Georgia,  employed  on  the  expedition  against  the 
Creek  Indians. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with,  sentiments  of  respect,  your 
most  obedient  servant, 

THOMAS  PINCKNEY. 
The  Secretary  of  War. 


Camp  west  ofChatahouchie,  December  4,  1815. 
Major-General  Pinckney, 

Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  communicate  to  your  excellency 
an  account  of  an  action  fought  the  29th  ultimo,  on  the  Tala- 
poosie  river,  between  part  of  the  force  under  my  command 
and  a  large  body  of  Creek  Indians. 

Having  received  information  that  nurribers  of  the  hostile 
Indians  were  assembled  at  Autossee,  a  town  on  the  southern 
bank  of  the  Talapoosie,  about  eighteen  miles  above  the  Hic- 
kory-Ground, and  twenty  above  the  junction  of  that  river 
with  the  Coosa,  I  proceeded  to  its  attack  with  950  of  the 
Georgia  militia,  accompanied  by  between  three  and  four  hurt- 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [341 

dred  friendly  Indians.  Having  encamped  within  nine  or  ten 
miles  of  the  point  of  destination  the  preceding  evening,  we 
resumed  the  march  a  few  minutes  before  one  on  the  morning 
of  the  29th,  and  at  half  after  six  were  formed  for  action  in 
front  of  the  town. 

Booth's  battalion  composed  the  right  column,  and  marched 
from  its  centre.  Watson's  battalion  composed  the  left,  and 
marched  from  its  right.  Adam's  rifle  company  and  Meriwe- 
thers,  under  .lieutenant  Hendon,  were  on  the  flanks.  Captain 
Thomas's  artillery  marched  in  front  of  the  right  column  in 
the  road. 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  completely  surrounded  the 
enemy  by  appuying  the  right  wing  of  my  force  on  Canleebee 
creek,  at  the  mouth  of  which  I  was  informed  the  town-stood, 
and  resting  the  left  on  the  river  bank,  below  the  town  j  but, 
to  our  surprise,  as  the  day  dawned,  we  perceived  a  second 
town  about  five  hundred  yards  below  that  which  we  had  first 
viewed,  and  were  preparing  to  attack.  The  plan  was  imme- 
diately changed.  Three  companies  of  infantry  on  the  left 
were  wheeled  to  the  left  into  echellon,  and  advanced  to  the 
lower  town,  accompanied  by  Meriwether's  rifle  company  and 
two  troops  of  light  dragoons,  under  the  command  of  captains 
Irwin  and  Steele. 

The  residue  of  the  force  approached  the  upper  town,  and 
the  battle  soon  became  general.  The  Indians  presented 
themselves  at  every  point,  and  fought  with  the  desperate  bra- 
very of  real  fanatics.  The  well-directed  fire,  however,  of  the 
artillery,  added  to  the  charge  of  the  bayonet,  soon  forced 
them  to  take  refuge  in  the  cut-houses,  thickets,  and  copses 
in  the  rear  of  the  town  ;  many,  it  is  believed,  concealed  them- 
selves in  caves  previously  formed  for  the  purpose  of  securing 
retreat,  in  the  high  bluff  of  the  river,  which  was  thickly  co- 
vered with  reed  and  brush-wood.  The  Indians  of  the  friend- 
ly party,  who  accompanied  us  on  the  expedition,  wei'e  divi- 
ded into  four  companies,  and  placed  under  the  command  of 
leaders  of  their  own  selection.  They  were,  by  engagement 
entered  into  the  day  previous,  to  have  crossed  the  river  above 
the  town,  and"  been  posted  on  the  opposite  shore  during  the 
action,  for  the  purpose  of  firing  on  such  of  the  enemy  as  might 
attempt  to  escape,  or  keeping  in  check  any  reinforcements 
which  might  probably  be  thrown  in  from  the  neighbouring 
towns ;  but,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  the  ford,  and  the  cool- 
ness of  the  weather,  and  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  this  arrange- 
ment failed,  and  their  leaders  were  directed  to  cross  Canlee- 
bee creek  and  occupy  that  flank,  to  prevent  escapes  from  the 
•VIOL,  i.  TART  n.  Yl 


342]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

Tallisee  town;  Some  time  after  the  action  commenced,  our 
red  friends  thronged  in  disorder  in  the  rear  of  our  lines.  The 
Cowctaws,  under  M'Intosh,  and  the  Tookaubatchians,  under 
the  Mad  Dog's  Son,  fell  in  on  our  flanks,  and  fought  with 
an  intrepidity  worthy  of  any  troops. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  enemy  was  completely  driven  from  the 
plains,  and  the  houses  of  both  towns  wrapped  in  flames.  As 
we  were  then  sixty  miles  from  any  depot  of  provisions,  and 
our  five  days'  rations  pretty  much  reduced,  in  the  heart  of  an 
enemy's  country,  which  in  a  few  moments  could  have  poured 
from  its  numerous  towns  hosts  of  the  fiercest  warriors  ;  as 
soon  as  the  dead  and  wounded  were  properly  disposed  of,  I 
ordered  the  place  to  be  abandoned,  and  the  troops  to  com- 
mence their  march  to  Chatahouchie. 

It  is  difficult  to  determine  the  strength  of  the  enemy ;  but 
from  the  information  of  some  of  the  chiefs,  which  it  is  said 
can  be  relied  on,  there  were  assembled  at  Autossee,  warriors 
from  eight  towns  for  its  defence,  it  being  their  beloved  ground, 
on  which  they  proclaimed  no  white  man  could  approach  with- 
out inevitable  destruction.  It  is  difficult  to  give  a  precise 
account  of  the  loss  of  the  enemy  ;  but  from  the  number  which 
were  lying  scattered  over  the  field,  together  with  those  de- 
stroyed in  the  towns,  and  the  many  slain  on  the  bank  ot  the 
river,  which  respectable  officers  affirm  they  saw  lying  in  heaps 
at  the  water's  edge,  where  they  had  been  precipitated  by  their 
surviving  friends,  their  loss  in  killed,  independent  of  their 
wounded,  must  have  been  at  least  two  hundred  (among 
whom  are  the  Autossee  and  Tallisee  kings),  and  from  the 
circumstance  of  their  making  no  efforts  to- molest  our  return, 
probably  greater.  The  number  of  buildings  burnt  (some  of 
a  superior  order  for  the  dwellings  of  savages,  and  filled  with 
valuable  articles),  is  supposed  to  be  four  hundred. 

Adjutant-general  Newnan  rendered  important  services 
during  the  action,  by  his  cool  and  deliberate  courage.  My 
aid,  major  Crawford,  discharged  with  promptitude  the  du- 
ties of  a  brave  and  meritorious  officer.  Major  Pace,  who 
acted  as  field-aid,  also  distinguished  himself;  both  these 
gentlemen  had  their  horses  shot  under  them,  and  the  latter 
lost  his.  Dr.  Williamson,  hospital-surgeon,  and  Dr.  Clopton, 
were  prompt  and  attentive  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty 
towards  the  wounded  during  the  action. 

Major  Freeman,  at  the  head  of  Irwin's  troop  of  cavalry, 
and  part  of  Steele's,  made  a  furious  and  successful  charge 
upon  a  body  of  Indians,  sabred  several,  and  completely  de- 
feated them — captain  Adams  and  lieutenant  Hendon's  rifle 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [343 

companies  killed  a  great  many  Indians,  and  deserve  particu- 
lar praise.  Captain  Barton's  company  was  in  the  hottest  of 
the  battle,  and  fought  like  soldiers.  Captain  Myrick,  cap- 
tain Little,  captain  King,  captain  Brondnax,  captain  Clcv^- 
lands,  captain  Joseph  T.  Cunningham,  and  captain  Lee,  with 
their  companies,  distinguished  themselves.  Brigade-major 
Shackle-ford  \vas  of  great  service  in  bringing  the  troops  into 
action ;  and  adjutant  Broadnax,  and  major  Montgomen-, 
who  acted  as  assistant-adjutant,  showed  great  activity  rr.d 
courage.  Major  Booth  used  his  best  endeavours  in  bringing 
his  battalion  to  action,  and  major  Watson's  battalion  acted  wi'h 
considerable  spirit.  Irwin's,  Patterson's,  and  Steelt's  troops  of 
cavalry,  whenever  an  opportunity  presented,  charged  with 
success.  Lieutenant  Strong  had  his  horse  shot,  and  narrowly 
escaped,  and  quarter-master  Tennell  displayed  the  greatest 
heroism,  and  miraculously  escaped  though  badlv  wounded, 
after  having  had  his  horse  shot  from  under  him.  The  topo- 
graphical engineer  was  vigilant  in  endeavours  to  render  s  r- 
vice. 

The  troops  deserve  the  highest  praise  for  their  fortitude-  in 
enduring  hunger,  cold,  and  fatigue  without  a  murmur,  h=a  ing 
marched  120  miles  in  seven  days. 

The  friendly  Indians  lost  several  killed  and  wounded,  ihe 
number  not  exactly  known.  Captain  Barton,  an  active  and 
intelligent  officer  (the  bearer  of  these  despatches),  can  more 
particularly  explain  to  your  excellency  the  conduct,  move- 
ments, and  operations  of  the  anr.v. 

I  have  the  honour  to  b.%  with  high  regard,  your  most  obe- 
dient servant, 

JOHN  FLOYD,  Brijadier-Gex. 

Accompanying  the  above  is  a  detailed  statement  of,  tlie 
killed  and  wounded  in  the  engagement  of  the  29th  Novem- 
ber, as  furnished  by  the  hospital-surgeon,  the  amount  of 
which  is  as  follows  : 

Killed,  11  ;  wounded,  54. 

Letter  from  General  Adams  to  the  Governor  of  Georgia. 

Head- Barters,  Monticelh,  24th  December,  1813. 

Sir,  the  detachment  of  militia  under  my  command,  au- 
thorised by  a  resolution  of  the  legislature  of  this  state,  to 
proceed  against  the  upper  and  most  adjacent  warring  Creek 
towns,  having  returned  from  thai  service,  I  take  the  liberty 
of  laying  before  your  excellency  the  following  statement. 

On  the  9th  instant  the  detachment,  consisting  of  about  530 
men,  took  up  their  line  of  march  from  Camp  Patriotism 


J44J  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

near  Monticello,  but  in  consequence  of  frequent  rains,  and 
having  almost  innumerable  narrow  passes  to  go  through, 
where  our  pack-horses,  as  well  as  others,  often  met  with 
considerable  difficulty,  and  were  very  generally  compelled  to 
march  in  single  file,  we  were  unable  to  cross  Chatahouchie 
b<  'ore  Wednesday  the  15th,  which  we  did  about  12  o'clock 
on  that  day  ;  it  was  then  rainy,  and  some  of  the  men,  as  well 
as  most  of  the  baggagi ,  were  very  wet.  Believing  that  we 
should  be  more  successful  by  being  able  to  surprise  the  enemy, 
I  determined  on  marrhing  all  that  night,  and  attacking  the 
most  adjacent  town,  New-Yaucau,  which  was  then  30  miles 
distant,  at  day-light  on  Thursday,  the  16th.  The  night, 
however,  being  extremely  dark  and  wet,  .we  found  it  impos- 
sible, after  repeated  exertions  by  torch-light,  to  proceed  ;  we 
were  consequently  compelled  to  encamp  18  or  20  miles  from 
the  town  we  wished  to  surprise.  The  repeated  and  almost 
continued  rains  which  had  fallen  during  our  march,  and  par- 
ticularly that  night,  unavoidably  placed  our  arms  in  such  a 
situation  as  to  render  it  indispensably  necessary  that  some 
time  should  be  occupied  next  morning  in  putting  them  in  or- 
der ;  hence  we  were  unable  to  march  in  a  suitable  condition 
to  meet  an  enemy,  before  10  or  11  o'clock,  and  therefore 
could  not  that  day  reach  the  town  which  was  our  immediate 
object. 

As  soon  as  we  were  in  a  situation  to  meet  the  enemy,  the 
line  of  march  was  formed,  and  we  proceeded  near  a  small 
settlement,  containing  eleven  houses,  known  by  the  name  of 
the  Mad  Warriors  village,  where  the  army  was  halted,  and  a 
small  detachment  sent  forward  to  cut  off  such  of  the  enemy 
as  might  be  found  there  ;  not  a  single  Indian  was  to  be  seen, 
though  there  were  strong  evidences  of  its  having  been  re- 
cently evacuated.  Finding  some  corn  here,  such  persons  as 
were  most  deficient  supplied  themselves ;  we  then  set  fire  to 
the  buildings,  which  contained  several  articles  of  property, 
proceeded  to  within  three  miles  of  New  Yaucau,  and  encamp- 
ed without  fire.  On  the  morning  of  Friday,  the  17th  instant, 
the  army  was  formed  into  three- detachments  ;  the  right  com- 
manded by  captain  Hagerty,  the  left  by  captain  Dawson,  and 
the  centre  by  captain  Brown  ;  in  this  order  the  three  divi- 
sions marched  through  different  pass -ways,  and  over  very 
hilly  ground,  to  an  eminence  within  half  a  mile  of  the  town, 
where  the  whole  were  dismounted,  except  captain  Martin's 
company  of  cavalry  and  about  85  riflemen,  under  the  com- 
mand of  captain  Cocke. 

The  march  was  then  resumed  by  the  three  divisions,  so 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [345 

arranged  that  the  centre  should  fall  immediately  upon  the 
town,  and  the  right  and  left  wings  form  such  an  alignment  as 
would  prevent  the  escape  of  the  enemy  either  up  or  down 
the  river,  near  the  margin  of  which  the  town  was  situated. 
The  mounted  riflemen  under  the  command  of  captain  Cocke, 
and  captain  Martin's  corps  of  cavalry,  were  directed  to  form 
near  the  bank  of  the  river  so  as  to  prevent  any  from  escaping 
in  that  direction.  A  guard,  consisting  of  about  4O  men, 
were  left  upon  the  eminence,  to  protect  the  horses.  When- 
we  arrived  at  a  little  hill  which  overlooked  the  town,  we 
found,  to  oar  mortification,  as  we  found  at  the  little  village 
the  preceding  day,  not  a  single  Indian,  though  there  were 
abundant  signs  of  a  very  recent  evacuation,  and  repeated 
yells  within  our  hearing  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 

The  several  divisions,  after  ascertaining  that  we  should  be 
unable  to  accomplish  that  part  of  the  resolution  of  the  le- 
gislature which  related  to  the  destruction  of  the  enemy, 
were  ordered  to  repair  to  the  place  where  the  horses  were 
left,  to  return  to  the  town,  secure  what  corn  was  wanting, 
and  consume  the  balance  with  the  houses.  Upon  our  return 
up  the  hill,  where  our  horses  were  left,  the  yell  of  Indians 
was  heard  near  them,  and  two  small  detachments,  consisting 
of  the  cavalry  and  mounted  riflemen,  were  immediately  des- 
patched in  the  direction  from  whence  the  sounds  seemed  to 
issue  ;  but  the  ground  being  extremely  hilly,  so  as  to  obstruct 
the  view  at  very  short  distances,  no  Indians  could  be  found. 
The  whole  were  then  marched  down  to  the  town,  when  we 
discovered,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  a  number  of 
Indians  in  a  wood  on  the  brow  of  a  small  hill  which  com- 
manded the  ford,  and  at  a  distance  of  perhaps  four  or  five 
hundred  yards,  that  space  being  occupied  by  a  large  old  field 
and  the  river  Talapoosie. 

The  guides  who  had  been  procured  for  this  expedition  in- 
formed me,  that  the  river  at  this  place  was  more  shoal  than 
at  any  other  within  our  reach,  and  that  it  would  be  impossi- 
ble to  cross  here,  in  consequence  of  a  swell  occasioned  by 
the  late  rains.  Judging  also  from  the  signs  on  our  route,  and 
from  the  information  given  by  one  of  our  guides  who  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  habits  and  general  plan  of  the  war 
party  in  this  neighbourhood,  that  we  should  not  find  any  of 
them  on  this  side  the  river,  and  our  stock  of  provisions  be- 
ing by  frequent  rains  very  much  injured,  we  were  under  the 
painful  necessity  of  executing  so  much  only  of  the  object  of 
the  expedition  as  came  within  our  immediate  reach,  which  we 
did  by  burning  the  town  containing  85  houses,  and  the  pro- 


346]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

perty  fou^d  in  them,  consisting  principally  of  a  considerable 
quantity  of  corn.  I  judged  it  expedient  to  return  for  en- 
campment the  ensuing  night  beyond  the  surrounding  hills, 
and  we  accordingly  marched  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
the  town,  within  half  a  mile  of  the  river  bank,  where  we  lay 
without  fire,  though  a  very  cold  night,  within  hearing  of 
frequent  yells,  which  were  generally  supposed  to  be  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  prepared  for  any  attack  that 
the  enemy  might  think  proper  to  make  upon  us. 

During  our  stay  in  town,  while  procuring  corn  for  our 
horses,  three  or  four  of  the  men  went  to  the  margin  of  the 
river,  where  one  under  the  cover  of  an  Indian  hut,  and 
others  under  cover  of  such  brush  and  shrubbery  as  the  old 
field  afforded,  exchanged  a  few  shot  with  the  enemy,  and 
three  of  them  say  they  saw  an  Indian  fall  at  the  fire  of  their 
guns. 

The  adjutant,  Thomas  M.  Berrien,  who  was  at  the  mo- 
ment considerably  advanced  towards  the  margin  of  the  river, 
and  had  a  spy  glass  in  his  hand,  endeavouring  to  ascertain 
the  strength  of^the  enemy,  states  positively  that  he  saw  an 
Indian  fall  at  the  fire  of  Zachariah  Simms'  musket  and  John 
M.  Patrick's  rifle  ;  that  they  were  dragged  up  the  hill  and 
fires  raised  near  them.  Those  few  men  were  in  a  situation 
very  much  exposed  in  proportion  to  that  of  the  enemy,  and 
one  of  them,  John  M.  Patrick  of  Jasper  county,  while 
stooping  to  take  aim  at  a  crowd  of  Indian^,  received  a  ball 
'in  his  left  shoulder,  which  it  was  found  impossible  to  ex- 
tract— he  is  however  on  the  mend,  and  will  probably  re- 
cover. 

It  is  proper  to  add,  that  they  went  to  the  margin  of  the 
river  hot  only  without,  but  in  direct  violation  of  positive  or- 
ders. 

The  other  towns  which  we  contemplated  burning,  Too- 
kaubatchie,  Tallahasse  and  Immookfau,  were  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  river,  and  it  was  impossible  to  get  at  them, 
owing  to  the  high  water — hence,  nothing  was  left  for  us  but 
to  pursue  our  march  home,  which  was  done  with  proper  pre- 
cautionary measures  to  prevent  a  surprise  until  we  crossed 
Chatahouchie,  when  the  whole  were'permitted  to  proceed  in 
the  order  they  chose,  which  very  much  facilitated  our  march, 
and  all  have  arrived  safe. 

Since  my  return,  I  learn  from  captain  Hamilton  of  general 
Floyd's  army,  who  is  now  in  this  neighbourhood,  that  his 
company  of  cavalry,  and  some  friendly  Indians  with  M4In- 
tosh  at  their  head,  were  ordered  to  join  us  at  Chatahouchie ; 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [347 

this  they  failed  to  accomplish,  and  the  friendly  Indians  were 
deterred  from  pursuing  us  by  information  which  they  re- 
ceived, that  a  force  of  200O  hostile  Indians  were  assembled 
at  Oakfuskee,  and  if  we  should  fall  in  with  them,  would  in- 
evitably cut  us  off.  Captain  Hamilton  would  have  followed 
us,  but  was  apprehensive  that  we  were  so  far  advanced,  that 
he  would  be  unable  to  overtake  us. 

Before  I  conclude  this  communication,  it  is  proper  to' state, 
that  the  officers  and  privates  (with  such  exceptions  only  as 
are  noted  within  the  remarks  of  the  muster  roll)  evinced, 
during  the  whole  expedition,  and  particularly  at  every  alarm, 
a  degree  of  firm  and  deliberate  courage,  which  would  have 
done  honour  to  Spartan  valour. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  high  consideration,  your  ex- 
cellency's most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

DAVID  ADAMS. 
His  Excellency  Peter  Early,  Governor  of  Georgia. 


AMERICAN  AND  BRITISH  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  CAPTURE  OF  FORT 
NIAGARA,  AND  THE  DESOLATION  OF  THAT  FRONTIER. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  General  M'-Clure,  of  the  Nero-Tor  k  State 

Troops,  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 
Head-quarters^  Buffalo,  December  22</,  1813. 

Sir,  I  regret  to  be  under  the  necessity  of  announcing  to 
you  the  mortifying  intelligence  of  the  loss  of  Fort  Niagara. 
On  the  morning  of  the  19th  instant,  about  4  o'clock,  the  ene- 
my crosse4  the  river  at  the  Five- Mile  Meadows  in  great 
force,  consisting  of  regulars  and  Indians,  who  madeftheir 
way  undiscovered  to  the  garrison,  which,  from  the  most  cor- 
rect information  I  can  collect,  was  completely  surprised.  Our 
men  were  nearly  all  asleep  in  their  tents ;  the  enemy  rushed 
in  and  commenced  a  most  horrid  slaughter.  Such  as  esca- 
ped the  fury  of  the  first  onset  retired  to  the  old  mess-house, 
where  they  kept  up  a  destructive  fire  on  the  enemy,  until  a 
want  of  ammunition  compelled  them  to  surrender.  Although 
our  force  was  very  inferior,  and  comparatively  small  indeed, 
I  am  induced  to  think  that  the  disaster  is  not  attributable  to 
any  want  of  troops,  but  to  gross  neglect  in  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  fort,  captain  Leonard,  in  not  preparing,  being 
ready,  and  looking  out  for  the  expected  attack. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  correctly  the  number  of 
killed  and  wounded.  About  twenty  regulars  have  escaped 


348J  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

out  of  the  fort,  some  badly  wounded.   Lieutenant  Peck,  24th 
regiment,  is  killed,  and  it  is  said  thn-e  others. 

You  will  perceive,  sir,  by  the  enclosed  general  orders,  that 
I  apprehended  an  attack,  and  made  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments to  meet  it;  but  have  reason  to  believe,  from  informa- 
tion received  by  those  who  have  made  their  t-srape,  that  the 
commandant  did  not  in  any  respect  comply  with  those  orders. 

On  the  same  morning  a  detachment  of  militia,  under  ma- 
jor Bennet,  stationed  at  Lewistown  heights,  was  attacked  by 
a  party  of  savages  ;  but  the  major  and  his  little  corps,  by  ma- 
king a  desperate  charge,  effected  their  retreat,  after  being 
surrounded  by  several  hundred,  with  the  loss  of  six  or  eight, 
who  doubtless  were  killed,  among  whom  were  two  sons  of 
captain  Jones,  Indian  interpreter.  The  villages  of  Youngs- 
town,  Lewistown,  Manchester,  and  the  Indian  Tuscarora 
village,  %vere  reduced  to  ashes,  and  the  inoffensive  inhabitants 
who  could  not  escape  were,  without  regard  to  age  or  sex,  in- 
humanly butchered  by  savages,  headed  by  British  officers 
painted.  A  British  officer  who  is  taken  prisoner,  avows  that 
many  small  children  were  murdered  by  their  Indians.  Ma- 
jor Mallory,  who  was  stationed  at  Schlosser  with  about  forty 
Canadian  volunteers,  advanced  to  Lewistown  heights,  and 
compelled  the  advanced  guard  of  the  enemy  to  fall  back  to 
the  foot  of  the  mountain.  The  major  is  a  meritorious  officer. 
He  fought  the  enemy  two  days,  and  contended  every  inch  of 
ground  to  the  Tauntawanty  Creek.  In  thrse  actions  lieute- 
nant Lowe,  23d  regiment  United  States'  army,  and  eight 
of  the  Canadian  volunteers  were  killed.  I  had  myself,  three 
days  previous  to  the  attack  on  Niagara,  left  it  with  a  view  of 
providing  for  the  defence  of  this  place,  Black-Rock,  and  the 
other  villages  on  this  frontier.  I  came  here  without  troops, 
and  have  called  out  the  militia  of  Gennessee,  Niagara,  and 
Chataugue  counties  en  masse. 

This  place  was  then  thought  to  be  in  most  imminent  dan- 
ger, as  well  as  the  shipping;  but  I  have  no  doubt  is  now  per- 
fectly secure.  Volunteers  are  coming  in  in  great  numbers  ; 
they  are,  however,  a  species  of  troops  that  cannot  be  expected 
to  continue  in  service  for  a  long  time.  In  a  few  days  one 
thousand  detached  militia,  lately  drafted,  will  be  on. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sec. 

GEO.  M'CLURE, 
Brigadier-General  commanding'. 
Hon.  John  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  War. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [349 

Extract  of  a  second  Letter  from  General  M'-Clure  to  the  Secre- 
tary at  War. 

Batavia,  December  25,  1813. 

It  is  a  notorious  fact  that  the  night  on  which  Fort  Niagara 
was  captured,  captain  Leonard  left  the  fort  about  1 1  o'clock, 
P.  M.  I  am  assured  that  he  has  since  given  himself  up  to 
the  enemy,  and  that  he  and  his  family  are  now  on  the  Cana- 
dian side  of  the  streight. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Major-General  Hall,  commanding  on 
the  Niagara  Frontier,  to  his  Excellency  Governor  Tompkins, 

dated  Buffalo,  December  25,  1813. 

On  my  receiving  information  of  the  enemy's  crossing  the 
Niagara  river,  and  taking  the  fort,  I  immediately  set  off  for 
that  frontier.  On  my  arrival  at  Batavia,  I  found  a  number 
of  volunteers  assembled.  I  tarried  there  one  day  to  for- 
ward them  on  to  the  frontier,  and  make  arrangements  for 
those  who  should  follow. 

I  this  day  arrived  at  Buffalo  and  assumed  the  command  of 
the  troops,  being  all  volunteers,  now  on  this  station.  The 
whole  number  here,  at  Lewistown,  &c.  may  amount  to  200O 
of  all  descriptions.  The  enemy  have  made  their  appearance 
off  Black  Rock,  and  an  invasion  is  to  be  expected.  The 
troops  now  out  can  be  kept  out  but  a  few  days.  Those  called 
out  on  your  excellency's  last  requisition,  cannot  all  arrive  at 
this  place  till  the  middle  or  last  of  this  week.  The  order 
did  not  reach  me  till  the  evening  of  the  16th  instant. 

Our  loss  in  the  capture  of  Niagara  has  been  immense. 
What  number  of  brave  men  have  been  sacrificed,  we  have 
not  been  able  to  learn. — It  must  have  been  great. 

Several  inhabitants  have  been  killed  at  Lewistown,  &c. 
among  whom  it  is  not  ascertained  there  are  any  women  or 
children.  I  have  the  honour,  Sec. 

AMOS  HALL. 

From  the  same  to  the  same,  dated  Head-quarters, 

Niagara  Frontiers,  Dec.  3O,  1813,  7  6 'clock,  P.  M. 

Received  by  Express. 

Sir,  I  have  only  time  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
letter  of  the  25th  instant,  and  to  add  that  this  frontier  is 
wholly  desolate.  The  British  crossed  over,  supported  by  a 
strong  party  of  Indians,  at  a  little  before  day  this  morning, 
near  Black  Rock — they  were  met  by  the  militia  under  my 
command  with  spirit;  but,  overpowered  by  numbers  and 
discipline  of  the  enemy,  the  militia  gave  way  and  fled  on 
Vox.  i.  PART  IT.  Zz 


£50]  HISTORICAL  REGISTER. 

every  side  ;  every  attempt  to  rallv  them  was  ineffectual. 
The  enemy's  purpose  was  obtained,  and  the  flourishing  vil- 
lage of  Buffalo  is  laid  in  ruins.  The  Niagara  frontier  now 
lies  open  and  naked  to  our  enemies.  Your  judgment  will 
direct  you  what  is  most  proper  in  this  emergency.  I  am  ex- 
hausted with  fatigue,  and  must  defer  particulars  till  to  mor- 
row. Many  valuable  lives  are  lost. 
I  have  the  honour,  &c. 

A.  HALL,  Major- Gen. 

Hcad-§>i!artcrs,  Upper  Canada,  Dec.  19,  1813. 
Lieutenant-general  Drummond  congratulates  the  troops 
under  his  command,  on  the  brilliant  success  which  has 
crowned  the  attack  made  this  morning  on  Fort  Niagara.  It 
was  assaulted  an  hour  before  day-light,  and  after  a  short  but 
severe  contest,  it  was  carried  with  a  very  slight  loss  on  our 
part;  that  of  the  enemy  was  65  killed  and  15  wounded — all 
by  the  bayonet — the  remainder  of  the  garrison,  to  the  num- 
ber of  about  350  regular  troops  and  artillery,  were  m-ide  pri- 
soners; 27  pieces  of  ordnance  were  found  in  the-  io  t.  Our 
loss  does  not  exceed  5  killed  and  3  wounded.  Lieutenant 
Nowlan,  of  the  100th  regiment,  a  very  promising  young  offi- 
cer, is  the  only  officer  kilK  d.  The  lieutenant-general  has  to 
regret  that  a  severe  wound  which  colonel  Murray  has  re- 
ceived, is  likely  to  deprive  the  army  of  the  services  of  that 
gallant  officer  for  some  time.  The  troops  employed  on  this 
occasion  were  the  lOOth  regiment,  the  grenadier  company  of 
the  royals,  and  the  flank  companies  of  the  41st  regiment. 
Their  instructions  were  not  to  fire,  but  to  carry  the  place  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet.  These  orders  were  punctually 
obeyed;  a  circumstance  that  not  only  proves  their  intrepidity, 
but  reflects  great  credit  on  their  discipline.  Colonel  Mur- 
ray expresses  his  admiration  of  the  valour  and  good  conduct 
of  the  whole  of  the  troops,  particularly  of  the  100th  regi- 
ment, which  led  the  attack.  He  also  bestows  his  particular 
thanks  on  lieutenant-colonel  Hamilton,  &c.  (Here  follow  the 
names  of  several  regular  and  militia  officers  who  distin- 
guished themselves).  Of  the  brilliant  service  of  lieutenant 
Dawson  of  the  lOOth,  wjio  led  the  forlorn  hope,  and  captain. 
Fawcett,  of  the  100th  grenadiers,  in  entirely  cutting  off  two 
of  the  enemy's  pickets  and  surprising  the  sentries  on  the 
glacis  and  at  the  gate,  by  which  means  the  watch-word  was 
obtained,  and  the  entrance  into  the  fort  greatly  facilitated, 
the  colonel  speaks  in  terms  of  the  highest  and  most  deserved 
praise. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS.  [851 

Lieutenant-General  Drummond  will  perform  a  most  grate- 
ful duty  in  bringing  under  the  notice  of  his  royal  highness 
the  prince  regent,  through  his  excellency  the  commander  of 
the  forces,  the  admirable  execution  of  this  brilliant  achieve- 
ment on  the  part  of  every  individual  cpncerned.  The  use- 
ful services  of  the  militia  volunteers  in  launching  the  boats, 
and  rowing  the  troops  across  the  river,  were  not  unnoticed 
by  the  lieutenant-general. 

The  lieutenant-general  has  received  from  major-general 
Riall  a  very  favourable  report  of  the  zeal  and  alacrity  of  the 
detachment  of  the  Royal  Scots,  under  lieutenant-colonel  Gor- 
don, and  the  41st  battalion  companies  under  major  Friend, 
who  advanced  under  the  major-general's  command  to  dis- 
lodge the  enemy  from  the  heights  of  Lewistown.  Their 
steadiness  and  regularity  under  circumstances  of  great  temp- 
tation, were  highly  creditable  to  them.  Nothing  could  more 
strongly  indicate  their  anxious  wish  to  meet  the  enemy ; 
and  the  lieutenant-general  has  only  to  regret  that  his  rapid 
retreat  from  Lewistown  heights,  did  not  afford  to  major- 
general  Rial!  an  opportunity  of  leading  them  to  victory. 

Lieutenant-general  Drummond  begs  that  major-generals 
Riall  and  Vincent  will  accept  his  acknowledgment  for  the 
assistance  he  has  received  from  them  in  making  arrange- 
ments for  the  late  operations,  s 

Lieutenant-colonel  Hamilton,  lOOth  regiment,  is  appointed 
to  command  Fort  Niagara,  and  the  lieutenant-general  will 
recommend  that  the  same  command-money  be  annexed  to  it 
as  was  granted  at  Fort  George. 

A  board  of  survey,  composed  of  lieutenant-colonel  Ha- 
milton, commandant,  president,  major  Holcroft,  command- 
ing royal  artillery,  and  a  captain  of  the  100th  regiment  mem- 
bers, will  assemble  as  soon  as  possible  in  Fort  Ni.igara  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  an  exact  account  and  inventory  of  the 
immense  quantity  of  ordnance,  stores,  arms,  provisions, 
clothing,  &c.  captured  in  that  place. 

J.  HARVEY, 
Lieutenant- Colonel,  Dept. •  Adj. -Gen , 


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